A DATE has been set for former Champion Hurdle king Constitution Hill’s Flat debut – under the floodlights at Southwell.
Nicky Henderson’s ex-Grade 1-winning monster over the smaller obstacles is set to run over 1m4f at the all-weather track.
The Seven Barrows boss confirmed he is due to start stalls work this week in anticipation of his Flat outing.
Constitution Hill – dubbed the ‘horse of a generation’ by AP McCoy – is set to compete on Friday, February 20, just over a fortnight before Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday, March 10.
Henderson said the Michael Buckley-owned eight-year-old will be given an entry in the race he won so easily in 2023, a year after he dominated the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
But with his Sir Gino leading the betting and looking every inch the superstar he did before his life-threatening injury, the signs are pointing towards Constitution Hill sticking to the level.
Although the Southwell outing could just as effectively prove a prep run for a return to Cheltenham.
The British Horseracing Authority have confirmed the new £40,000 Class 2 all-weather novice will be staged as part of the Friday Night Live fixture at the Nottinghamshire track.
The race, backed by bookies SBK, will be the joint most valuable British novice ever run on the artificial surface.
Hosted by Arc and Invades, the race – open to novices aged four and older – is set to be shown live on ITV.
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Adam Baylis, Marketing Director of SBK said: “Supporting British racing is massively important to us at SBK, so when Nicky Henderson spoke about the need for a Flat race with these conditions for Constitution Hill, we took the idea to Arc.
“We’re delighted to have been able to help make it happen and it’s a great boost to the Friday Night Live series.”
Sam Cone, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Arc, said: “We are delighted to assist in the delivery of this opportunity, and are grateful to SBK, without whom it would not be possible.
“The race should certainly add an extra dimension to the Friday Night Live fixture at Southwell on 20 February, to those coming along to experience the evening in person as well as those watching at home on ITV Racing and Sky Sports Racing.”
Henderson confirmed a ‘plan’ had been hatched to give Constitution Hill an opening for his Flat debut.
But even so, such a career move would have been totally unthinkable not that long ago.
After smashing State Man by nine lengths in the Champion Hurdle three years ago, the talk was about Constitution Hill potentially being the best hurdler ever.
From his debut on December 4 2021 at Sandown to his Unibet Hurdle win on Trials Day 2025, nothing could get close to him and he reeled off ten straight wins.
Then last year’s Champion Hurdle happened.
Sent off 1-2 under Nico de Boinville he fell when looking to be travelling well.
He was also in contention at Aintree the following month but fell there too.
He looked totally out of sorts when Henderson then ran him at Punchestown in May, finishing fifth of sixth and beaten out of sight.
And his big reappearance in this season’s Fighting Fifth ended in yet more disaster when he hit the deck again at the second flight.
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