Constitution Hill wows on Flat debut at Southwell

The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner claimed victory in the £40,000 Flat race by nine and a half lengths

Constitution Hill ridden by Oisin Murphy on the way to winning the the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell Racecourse. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Constitution Hill was billed as the star of the show at Southwell on Friday and so it proved, with arguably the biggest name in National Hunt racing running on the Flat for the first time and, as he has done so many times during his career, leading his rivals a merry dance in what was a sensational performance.

Much-publicised falls over hurdles led to Nicky Henderson switching to the level on a fact-finding mission and with five-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy in the saddle, no stone was left unturned.