Constitution Hill, the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner trained by Nicky Henderson, may miss his planned flat debut at Southwell due to a random ballot draw. The horse drew 16th in the elimination order for the oversubscribed SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes, requiring multiple withdrawals to secure a spot. Connections hope for dropouts to allow the nine-year-old to run on Friday's card.
Nicky Henderson has expressed concern over Constitution Hill's participation in the 1m4f novice stakes at Southwell's Friday Night Live fixture. The race, added to the card with a £40,000 prize to attract the star hurdler, attracted 32 entries, exceeding the maximum field of 14 runners—or potentially 12 depending on stabling. British Horseracing Authority rules prioritize horses with limited flat experience and placings, leaving Constitution Hill in the second preference band for unraced flat horses.
A random ballot on Sunday placed him 16th among 15 qualifiers in that group, meaning he needs at least two withdrawals for a 14-runner field or four for 12. An early boost came when trainer Hughie Morrison indicated Secret Squirrel is doubtful after a recent hurdle run, potentially relying on Star Artist instead.
Henderson, speaking to Racing Post, said: "It'd be very sad if he didn't get in because a lot of work has gone into putting this together and it's had a lot of media coverage, which has been good fun." On Racing TV's Luck On Sunday, he added: "I don’t dare think about it... it would be a serious back-fire if he didn’t get in, I must admit, because I’d be lost for what we’re going to do next."
The plan aims to rebuild confidence after Constitution Hill's third fall in four starts, including at the second flight of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November. Oisin Murphy is lined up to ride, with the horse favored at 4-6 by Paddy Power. Other notable entries include Willie Mullins' Daddy Long Legs, a guaranteed runner and Grade 3 hurdle winner, alongside Gambino (Dan Skelton), Nardaran (Paul Nicholls), and Tripoli Flyer (Fergal O’Brien).
Flat contenders like Jupiter Ammon (Timeform 93) and Square Necker (91p) add competition. Declarations close Wednesday at 10am, with around 2,000 expected for the ITV-covered event. If excluded, Henderson faces replanning for the March 10 Champion Hurdle, where Constitution Hill is a 4-1 chance.
