“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,” stated Nicky Henderson, the esteemed trainer of Constitution Hill, as he prepares the horse for his upcoming race at Kempton Park.
Constitution Hill, a horse that has already made headlines with his impressive performances, is entered for the Virgin Bet Novice Stakes at Kempton on March 19, 2026. This will mark his second appearance on the Flat after a successful debut at Southwell, where he won by an astonishing nine and a half lengths. Henderson’s strategy is clear: securing a handicap mark is essential for the horse’s future racing prospects.
Henderson elaborated further, saying, “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.” This approach underscores the importance of the upcoming race, as it serves not only as a competitive outing but also as a strategic move in Constitution Hill’s career.
Prior to this transition to Flat racing, Constitution Hill was an outstanding hurdler, having won the G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by an impressive 22 lengths at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and the 2023 Champion Hurdle. However, his recent outings over hurdles have been less than ideal, with the horse falling in three of his last four races. This shift to Flat racing represents a new chapter for the horse, one that Henderson hopes will reignite his competitive spirit.
Ryan Moore, a prominent jockey, is set to ride Constitution Hill in this race, bringing his expertise to the saddle. Meanwhile, Oisin Murphy, who has been a key figure in the horse’s training, is currently suspended for eight days from March 24-31, which adds a layer of complexity to the team’s preparations.
As the race day approaches, anticipation is building. Barney Clifford, a figure associated with the event, expressed hope that the public will come out to support Constitution Hill. “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,” he remarked, emphasizing the excitement surrounding the horse’s return to the track.
What observers say
Nico de Boinville, who has ridden Constitution Hill in all of his gallops, recently sat on him again, reporting that the horse felt in good form. This positive feedback from a familiar jockey adds to the optimism surrounding Constitution Hill’s 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. As he prepares for this pivotal moment in his career, the odds are already in his favor, with Paddy Power pricing him at 2-7 for the Kempton race and between 14-1 and 16-1 for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June. The stakes are high, and the racing community is keenly watching this remarkable horse as he embarks on what could be a transformative journey in Flat racing.