‘Horse of a generation’ Constitution Hill making £40k flat racing debut after falling in three of last four races

Constitution Hill is ready to put a nightmare patch of form in the past.

The Nicky Henderson-trained horse has been confirmed as one of the entrants in the SBK Road to Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell on Friday.

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It will mark the iconic hurdler’s debut in flat racing, with a £40,000 prize on offer for victory.

The horse will be ridden by five-time flat racing champion Oisin Murphy.

There were initial fears Constitution Hill was going to miss out on the event as it fell outside the top 14 entries in a priority list generated by a random ballot last Sunday.

It meant Constitution Hill needed two runners who had already secured a spot in Friday’s event to withdraw.

Four horses – Secret Squirrel, John Galt, Tide Lines and Summer Appeal – ultimately pulled out, ensuring Constitution Hill would be guaranteed entry into the race.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Henderson spoke of his excitement for what’s to come.

“It was a bit of a relief to get in; we did know that we would be all right last night,” Henderson said.

“Everyone has been very helpful, which is good.

“It’s caused quite a bit of interest. It will be fun, it’s a good crowd and it’s televised on ITV. Arc have done a good job, the sponsors are very important and everybody has supported it, as have the BHA (British Horseracing Association), which is great.”

The eight-time Grade 1 winner has been in drawn in stall 12, which wasn’t exactly what Henderson wanted.

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However, the legendary trainer backed Murphy to produce race-winning tactics.

“Constitution Hill has been working in the stalls for a few weeks,” Henderson said.

“So the work yesterday was just another reminder that when they open, you go.

“I didn’t want to be drawn on the inside, so I suppose between four and seven would have been quite nice. 12 is a bit wide but Oisin knows what he’s got to do and I will leave that bit to him on where he wants to go.”

Despite Constitution Hill being a former Champion Hurdle winner in 2023, a result which led racing icon Sir AP McCoy to describe the gelding as ‘the horse of a generation’ on ITV Racing, Henderson’s horse has endured a nightmare patch of form.

The eight-time Grade 1 race winner has fallen in three of his last four races, the last of which was at the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in Newcastle last December.

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Prior to the latest falls, Constitution Hill enjoyed a ten-race win streak.

Friday’s race takes place at 7:30pm and will be broadcast on ITV 4.