“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, highlighting the significance of Constitution Hill’s upcoming race at Kempton Park.
Scheduled for March 19, 2026, Constitution Hill will compete in the Virgin Bet Novice Stakes, marking his second appearance on the Flat after a successful debut at Southwell, where he won by an impressive nine and a half lengths. Henderson’s strategy is clear: securing a handicap mark is crucial for the horse’s future racing prospects.
Constitution Hill has a storied history as a top-tier hurdler, having won the G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by 22 lengths at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and clinching the 2023 Champion Hurdle. However, his recent performances have been marred by falls in three of his last four outings over hurdles, prompting the transition to Flat racing.
“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,” Henderson added, emphasizing the necessity of this race for the horse’s development.
Ryan Moore, a leading jockey, is set to ride Constitution Hill in this race, which has generated considerable excitement among fans and observers. “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,” said Barney Clifford, further illustrating the anticipation surrounding the event.
As the race approaches, Oisin Murphy, another prominent jockey, will be absent due to an eight-day suspension from March 24-31. This absence adds another layer of intrigue to the race, as Moore steps in to guide Constitution Hill. Henderson noted that Nico de Boinville, who has ridden Constitution Hill in all his gallops, reported that the horse is in good form, which bodes well for 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 contest. Currently, he is priced between 14-1 and 16-1 for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, with Paddy Power installing him at 2-7 for the upcoming race at Kempton.
As the excitement builds for Constitution Hill’s second Flat appearance, the racing community eagerly awaits to see if he can continue his winning ways and secure the necessary handicap mark to further his racing career.