Constitution Hill Dominates on Flat Debut, Future Plans Remain Open

Southwell Racecourse witnessed a commanding performance from Constitution Hill on Friday, February 20, 2026, as the star hurdler effortlessly transitioned to Flat racing, winning the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes. However, trainer Nicky Henderson remains undecided about the horse’s participation in the 2026 Champion Hurdle.

Impressive Victory at Southwell

Constitution Hill secured a decisive victory, winning by nine and a half lengths, much to the delight of onlookers. The six-year-old went off as the 6/4 favorite and delivered a performance that showcased his exceptional talent Sporting Life. He claimed a £40,000 prize for the win Talksport.

Emotional Response from Owner and Trainer

Owner Michael Buckley expressed his overwhelming joy, stating, “when you hear people like this [the crowd and reception] it makes me cry.” He emphasized Henderson’s long-held belief in the horse’s special qualities, which were on full display at Southwell Sporting Life.

Henderson himself was visibly moved, commenting, “I think he’s enjoyed himself. To go racing and do that for him is lovely because it probably hasn’t been as much fun for him as it should have been.” He acknowledged the positive atmosphere and the excitement surrounding the horse’s debut on the Flat Sporting Life.

Future Plans Uncertain

Despite the impressive win, Henderson is hesitant to commit Constitution Hill to a specific path, including the prestigious Champion Hurdle in March. He noted the horse’s age and the fact that starting on the Flat is unusual for a horse of his caliber Sporting Life.

“He has a career and we probably should have done this four years ago,” Henderson said. “It’s lovely, we’re in tears tonight, but we’ve had a few different tears over the last few years. It’s nice to be back with positive vibes and we’ve lots to look forward to and lots of decisions to craft.” He added, “I thought this would tell us what to do and it opens up a lot of doors, we could do a lot of things so we’ll have to think long and hard.” Sporting Life.

Henderson also indicated that Constitution Hill is not ideally suited for summer Flat racing Sporting Life.