Wow. That’s the one word text I sent to a couple of friends moments after the 7:30 at Southwell. It’s the first time the 7:30 at Southwell ever elicited a wow from these keys. First time from any keys.
Constitution Hill made his flat debut in the 7:30 at Southwell Friday evening. Friday afternoon here.
On a fact-finding mission, a reclamation project, a dart throwing exercise, the once unbeatable hurdler made easy work of the SBK Road to Cheltenham Novice. Without movement from champion jockey Oisin Murphy, the 9-year-old stalked and walked to a 12-length score.
It was all ‘Wow.’
The Racing Post summed it up.
CONSTITUTION HILL made it 10-10 under rules when landing The International Hurdle last January but things haven’t been plain sailing since, failing to complete in three of his four starts since and running poorly at Punchestown in the other. All eyes were on the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner on his Flat debut and he didn’t disappoint, tanking into it and pulling well away to produce a highly impressive performance. He clearly retains all of his spark, leaving connections with a tough decision to make about where to go next, with there being a possibility that he could be top-class prospect in this sphere over middle distances. However, Nicky Henderson is yet to shut down the idea of returning to Cheltenham next month, and bookmakers reacted by shortening him into a general 5-2 shot.
Now what? That is the question. The biggest question trainer Nicky Henderson has ever had to answer. The Champion Hurdle in 18 days. Get it right and it’s the greatest day in sport. Get it wrong and it could be the worst.
