“We’re not running him for experience or anything like that. He doesn’t need experience. The crux of it is that we probably need to get him a handicap mark and so this is the second leg,” said trainer Nicky Henderson, as excitement builds for Constitution Hill’s second Flat appearance at Kempton Park.
Scheduled for March 19, 2026, Constitution Hill is entered for the Virgin Bet Novice Stakes, with renowned jockey Ryan Moore set to ride. This follows a stellar career over hurdles, where he won the G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by an impressive 22 lengths at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and claimed victory in the 2023 Champion Hurdle.
Henderson’s comments highlight the strategic approach behind this race. “It’s not the practice he needs, but we’ve got to be getting ahead in trying to get him a handicap mark, so we feel it’s better to get it done this way,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of this race in Constitution Hill’s transition to Flat racing.
Constitution Hill’s journey has not been without its challenges. After falling in three of his last four outings over hurdles, the decision to shift to Flat racing seems to be a calculated risk. His Flat debut at Southwell, however, was a resounding success, winning by nine and a half lengths, which has only fueled the anticipation for his upcoming race.
As the community gears up for the event, Barney Clifford expressed hope for a strong turnout. “I hope people will come. Looking at what he did at Southwell, both with his performance and the press he generated, hopefully it’ll gather momentum and we’ll be rewarded at the track on Wednesday,” he said, reflecting the local enthusiasm surrounding this remarkable horse.
In preparation for the race, Nico de Boinville, who has ridden Constitution Hill in all of his gallops, sat on him recently and reported that he felt in good form. This positive feedback from a familiar rider adds to the confidence surrounding his performance at Kempton.
Looking ahead, Constitution Hill’s next potential race is the G3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury on April 18, just three weeks after the Kempton event. Currently, he is priced between 14-1 and 16-1 for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, while Paddy Power has installed him at 2-7 for the Kempton contest.
As the day approaches, the excitement in the community continues to grow, with many eager to see how Constitution Hill will fare in this new chapter of his racing career. Details remain unconfirmed about any further developments, but all eyes will be on Kempton Park as this remarkable horse takes to the track once again.
