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Constitution Hill shines in flat racing transition

BBC Sport •
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Constitution Hill delivered another impressive performance on the Flat at Kempton Park, marking his second victory after a successful transition from National Hunt racing. The nine-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, had previously dominated over fences with 10 wins including the 2023 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham but switched disciplines following three falls in four races.

Starting as the 1-7 favorite, Constitution Hill tracked in fifth for much of the race before Ryan Moore expertly guided him to the front. The horse finished clear of runner-up Classical Allusion, with Moore praising his performance: "He's a gentleman and I think the horse is enjoying his runs on the Flat. He moves really well and there will be plenty more improvement to come."

Henderson acknowledged the different nature of flat racing compared to hurdling at Cheltenham. "He's not slow, on a sharp track like this he seems to handle it well," the trainer noted. Constitution Hill's seamless adaptation to the Flat continues to surprise racing observers, with both connections suggesting he has yet to reveal his full potential at the shorter distance.