Nicky Henderson has confirmed Oisin Murphy sits firmly on the shortlist to ride Constitution Hill in his planned all-weather Flat debut at Southwell on Friday, February 20, with the Seven Barrows team using the £40,000 novice stakes as a deliberate confidence exercise after the hurdling star fell in three of his last four starts over obstacles.
The significance is blunt: this is not a jaunt for novelty value. Henderson wants a clean, uncomplicated day at the office — a horse that relaxes, breaks, travels with purpose and comes home without having to measure a hurdle. “I’m sure many of you have seen the video of Constitution Hill having his stalls practice this week and everything seems to be going well in that department,” Henderson said, signalling that the basics of a Flat assignment — loading, standing and breaking — now sit front and centre in the programme.
Constitution Hill, now nine, has looked a different animal since his seasonal reappearance in the Fighting Fifth, and the recent sequence of falls has forced a reset in routine and mindset. Henderson framed Southwell as a diagnostic as much as a pick-me-up: “I think the objective to running him at Southwell is so I can hopefully see what potential he has for racing on the flat and if we can go further down that route.”
That preparation continues next week when Constitution Hill schools with Yogi Breisner, a move that reads as targeted horsemanship rather than box-ticking. Henderson added: “He’s also going to do some schooling with Yogi Breisner next week so we’re definitely keeping him busy!”
Oisin Murphy primed for prime ride aboard former Champion Hurdle hero
Jockey arrangements remain fluid, but the owner has already started the calls. Speaking on his Unibet blog, Henderson said: “There has been much speculation as to who will ride him at Southwell and I can tell you that no decision has been made, except to say that Michael Buckley has been in discussions with Oisin Murphy and, obviously we’ll have to see where he is at the time, but if he’s available it’s quite possible he could ride,” Henderson said.
If Murphy cannot commit, Henderson named Rob Hornby as a credible alternative, adding: “He’s a very good jockey, although I don’t think we’ll be short of applicants!”
Henderson’s bottom line on the timetable came without hedging: “He is in great form and if it continues that way he will definitely run on the 20th February and that will then tell us what future he has, or if we have to start thinking again.”