The former star hurdler ran for the second time of his career in a Flat race at Kempton, defeating seven rivals in the 1m4f novice stakes on the all-weather track
Nicky Henderson with the victorious Constitution Hill at Kempton(Image: Getty Images)
Constitution Hill took another positive step in his transformation into a high class Flat horse by winning for the second time in his new discipline at Kempton Park on Wednesday night. The nine-year-old former winner of the Champion Hurdle teamed up with top jockey Ryan Moore to contest a 1m4f novice stakes on the all-weather track.
Having made a spectacular debut in the sphere in February he was long odds-on to land the first prize of £6,480 for the Virgin Bet-sponsored contest. Nevertheless a large crowd for the occasion turned out to see the Nicky Henderson-trained once invincible hurdler continue his development.
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With his jumping career at a crossroads after the once unbeatable star took three falls in his last four races over obstacles, the former Champion Hurdle winner ventured into a new sphere 33 days ago
Trainer Nicky Henderson aimed the Michael Buckley-owned nine-year-old at the £40,000 SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell.
The plan worked to perfection before a packed Friday Night Live crowd at the Rolleston course as 6-4 favourite with BetTom Constitution Hill hit the front over a furlong out under Oisín Murphy before careering away to win by nine and a half lengths.
The performance helped persuade Henderson not to persevere with his jumps career, by running at the Cheltenham Festival, and continue his future on the Flat.
Announcing the decision, Henderson said: “Last Friday night was for us all a magical occasion and we so appreciated his popularity and the love and admiration everybody showed to Conrad, as he is fondly called here.
“It was a terrific night for both him, us, and I believe British Horse Racing and we are very aware of the public perception and the possible consequences of running over hurdles and feel it is not fair to ask him and Nico to do it again. He showed on Friday night that he has another career in front of him that could possibly take us all to new playing fields.”
On Wednesday, he returned to a track he was most familiar with. During his jumps career he captured the Christmas Hurdle three times. A crowd of 1,477, more than three times the average Wednesday night attendance, turned up to see him. He was applauded into the paddock by racegoers packed around the parade ring.
They were not to be disappointed as the 1-7 favourite was settled in fifth place by Moore. The jockey made his move at the 2f pole and was pushed out with hands and heels to defeat Classical Allusion.
Moore said: “He’s a gentleman and I think the horse enjoyed his runs on the Flat. He moved well and I think there’s a bit more improvement to come so we’d be happy with that. We don’t know what level he can compete at. We’ll know more next time. I think he is very comfortable at 12f.”
The day before Henderson had to announce the death of Sir Gino, the 2025 Christmas Hurdle who was Constitution Hill’s heir apparent in the hurdle division after a long battle with infection following a fractured pelvis.
The trainer said afterwards: “I think the main thing that I liked a lot was the horse is enjoying himself a lot. I think that’s important. He’s had a year of not enjoying his racing terribly. You can understand why. If he’s enjoying that then that’s great for us.
“The mile and a half is probably as far as he needs to go. He’ll go further, yes, but he’s not a big slow old jumper by a very, very long way. He’s deceptive in his size and he looked big today too.”
He went on: “There is a lot of relief. It’s been a funny old few days for us and one of his sparring partners who was here at Christmas isn’t.
“He’s been around Kempton before because we come here a fortnight before Cheltenham every year and I should think he has done that for three years. There was one catastrophic visit two years ago when everything went pear-shaped and he couldn’t go on to Cheltenham. But otherwise he does know his way round here.
“He’s not slow. He seemed to handle the sharp track very well. It’s a different sport to being a two-miler at Cheltenham but he’s pretty adaptable.”
Of the crowd reaction, Henderson said: “It means a lot, of course it does. He’s had a difficult couple of years since that first fall in the Champion Hurdle a year ago. For Michael and everybody it’s been tough.
“We’re sitting on the best hurdler in the country. The only one that could go with him was Sir Gino and you can’t do anything. It’s heartbreaking. At least now we’ve found something as a nine-year-old that he can enjoy. It’s wonderful that people want to enjoy him with us. I’m sure he appreciates it, I certainly do.”
