It’ll be a familiar feeling for Constitution Hill as he’s unloaded off the horse box at Kempton on Wednesday, a track where he’s a three-time Grade 1 winner. The former hurdling-star has three Christmas Hurdle’s to his name, but he will be racing in an entirely different capacity.
It’s been over a month since his dominant flat debut at Southwell, which signalled an end to his hurdling career. Subsequently, connections have deliberated some big targets, including handicaps, thus requiring further runs for mark.
Kempton is the next step on his flat journey, and the courses’ clerk Barney Clifford is thrilled to see him. Speaking to Racing TV, Clifford said: “What he did at Southwell was sensational. He really impressed me and I was giving him a Group Three figure straight away. Obviously he’s got to build on that. It’s nice that this race has slotted into his programme to get him a handicap mark.
“If he runs to a similar mark to what he did at Southwell it will be great. He has been here before. He obviously worked here on the gallops morning before the Cheltenham Festival. Nico always said it was a bit slow for him, so he obviously copes with the surface.
“It’s nice people are taking him on – it’s not a two-runner race or anything. I know there were only nine initial entries, but eight of those have been confirmed which is great.”
Constitution Hill looks well clear of the field on the figures he achieved last time out. The main threat may come from the unbeaten Classical Allusion, a winner over 1m4f at Southwell on debut. The gelded son of Ulysses is a full-brother to a two-time course and distance winner. However, he’ll have to improve a chunk to beat Constitution Hill if he turns up in the same form.
A further reflection on just how high Constitution Hill could rate is the re-opposing Roadlesstravelled, who was 15-lengths behind him at Southwell. The O’Neils charge was only a length behind a 90-rated filly next time out, who was previously five-lengths behind triple-Oaks winning heroine Minnie Hauk.
“All systems” go for Constitution Hill – Nicky Henderson
On a video released on Kempton’s X account, Henderson was excited to see him back out. “He’s in great form. I think and hope that he’s looking forward to an outing at Kempton on Wednesday,” said Henderson. “He likes going there, he’s in good shape. Ryan Moore is going to ride him which is good, he can hopefully tell us what we need to know.
Oisin Murphy frustratingly misses the ride after receiving a whip ban, but Ryan Moore is a more than able deputy.
“We’re very much looking forward to a night out and I’m sure he is. It’s all systems go, I hope it will be a fun evening for him and it will be for us if he can come home in front,” concluded Henderson.