Michael Buckley is confident his star jumper could carve out a Flat racing career as he prepares for his debut on the level at Southwell next month
Constitution Hill will have “no problem” carving out a career on the Flat – provided he doesn’t “find a reason to fall over” on his debut in the sphere at Southwell next month.
A brilliant career over hurdles, highlighted by a superb Champion Hurdle triumph in 2023, has been derailed by jumping problems that have seen the Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old take heavy falls in three of his last four starts.
Henderson and the gelding’s owner Michael Buckley have opted for a change of codes, with Constitution Hill due to start out on Southwell’s Friday Night Live Card on February 20.
And Buckley is adamant his “exceptional” pride and joy can make a success of the venture, albeit that the new endeavour makes for “a bizarre state of affairs”.
“The horse has only had a dozen races in his life and he’s in great shape,” said the veteran owner.
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“I don’t think he’ll have any trouble at all racing on the Flat, personally – I’ve seen him work and seen what he can do.
“He needs to do something and at the moment he seems reluctant to jump more than one hurdle – hopefully he will not find a reason to fall over at Southwell!”
Buckley added: “He’s the age he is but he hasn’t had much racing and most of his races he’s won very, very easily, although you take a lot out of yourself to win in the way he has. “It’s a bizarre state of affairs to be as spectacular as he was and then, in three of his last races, he’s fallen.
“He’s an exceptional animal, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Constitution Hill will have some starting stalls practice this week when Nicky Henderson takes him to the nearby Lambourn yard of Flat trainer Charlie Hills.
Speculation about who will ride him is gathering pace with Ryan Moore, Rob Hornby, Dan Muscutt and Oisin Murphy among the names in the frame.
The £40,000 Southwell race will be over a mile and a half and it will be his first racecourse appearance since his early fall in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November.
It will be the joint most valuable novice ever run on the all-weather and will be sponsored by SBK bookmakers.
