Constitution Hill continued his successful transition to Flat racing by securing his second victory in this new discipline at Kempton Park on Wednesday evening. The nine-year-old, formerly a Champion Hurdle winner, partnered with renowned jockey Ryan Moore to compete in a 1m4f novice stakes race on the synthetic track.
After an impressive debut in February, Constitution Hill was heavily favored to claim the top prize of £6,480 in the Virgin Bet-sponsored event. Despite the odds, a sizable crowd gathered at Kempton Park to witness the Nicky Henderson-trained ex-hurdler’s progress in his new career path.
Following a series of falls in his hurdling races, Constitution Hill transitioned to Flat racing just over a month ago, under the guidance of trainer Nicky Henderson. The horse was targeted for the £40,000 SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell, a move that proved successful as Constitution Hill, ridden by Oisín Murphy, dominated the field to win by a significant margin.
The impressive performance at Southwell led to the decision to retire Constitution Hill from hurdling, with Henderson acknowledging the horse’s potential on the Flat. Returning to Kempton Park, where he had previously excelled in hurdling, Constitution Hill, cheered on by a crowd of 1,477, secured another victory under Moore’s skillful guidance.
Moore expressed his satisfaction with Constitution Hill’s performance, noting the horse’s enjoyment of Flat racing and hinting at further improvement in upcoming races. Henderson also shared his relief and joy at the horse’s successful transition, emphasizing Constitution Hill’s adaptability and the support from fans during this new phase of his career.
The positive reception from the crowd at Kempton Park was a heartening moment for Henderson and the team, marking a new chapter in Constitution Hill’s career after the challenges faced in hurdling. With the horse finding joy and success in Flat racing, Henderson and the supporters look forward to the future with optimism and appreciation.