Kempton cruise for Constitution Hill who draws another crowd for second win on the Flat

Nicky Henderson's 2023 Champion Hurdle winner has changed vocation as a nine-year-old after falling in three of his last four runs over hurdles and after an explosive Flat debut at Southwell on February 20, where he earned a Timeform rating of 106P, he put on another show on the Kempton polytrack.

With Oisin Murphy suspended, Ryan Moore deputised in the saddle and the signs were good as early as the canter down to post as the son of Blue Bresil settled like a gentleman in the hands of Ballydoyle's number one.

Breaking well from stall four, Moore settled him just off the pace in fifth in the mile and a half contest with Roadlesstravelled, who was behind Constitution Hill at Southwell, leading the way around the floodlit Sunbury venue.

Moore stuck to the rail rounding the turn for home, but switched off the inside at the top of the straight and moved easily to the front when you could hear an unusual roar from the evening Kempton crowd - of which an extra 1000 came through the gates to see the star attraction.

Nudged out under hands and heels riding by Moore, Constitution Hill won by an easy two lengths off a slow pace from Classical Allusion as he took his Flat career to two from two.

After two novice wins, a greater challenge awaits on his next start.

Moore said afterwards: "He's a gentleman. The horse is enjoying his runs on the Flat, he moved well and there's more improvement to come from him.

"We don't yet, he'll tell us that (how high he can go). We'll know more on his next run, he's very good at 12 (furlongs)."

Henderson said: "Ryan's great and we'll have a chat later on, it's too busy for a long debrief. He did say the horse is enjoying himself a lot and that's great for us.

"He thinks a mile and a half is as far as he needs to go. He's not a big slow old jumper by a long way. He's deceptive in his size, he looked big today too.

"There's a lot of relief. He's as quick as we've had for a very long time.

"He is not slow, a sharp track like this he seemed to handle it very well, but it's a different sport to be honest. He's very adaptable.

"It means a lot. He's had a difficult couple of years and for Michael [Buckley, owner] and everybody it has been tough. At least now we're finding something he can do as a nine-year-old and we can enjoy it."

Paddy Power left Constitution Hill unchanged at 12/1 for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap at York in August.

Analysis: Gears could be key to big-race target

What have we learnt from Constitution Hill's two facile wins against inferior all-weather opponents in two runs?

Not a lot, it has to be said. I still want to see what he can do against better opponents and if he does line up in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes (1m4f) at Newbury on April 18 we should learn a lot more.

But the one thing he has hinted at, both at Southwell and at Kempton, is that he is not automatically going to be a stayer on the Flat just because he's come in from the National Hunt game.

On Wednesday night he defied a very slow gallop and quickened clear to go two from two on the level, and while it remains to be seen how high he can fly, I wouldn't expect him to stretch to two miles and further on the Flat.

Indeed, if there's a race at Ascot for him it looks more likely to be the Champion Stakes over half the distance the Gold Cup is run over, especially when you consider he's likely to be saved for soft ground and an autumn campaign.

That might be pie in the sky, we won't know until he takes on a better class of rival on the turf. But after his two displays over 1m4f, he certainly doesn't look a given to go out in trip, not yet in any case. (Ben Linfoot)

More on Constitution Hill

• What to expect from Constitution Hill at Kempton
• Nicky Henderson looks forward to Kempton outing
• Constitution Hill ruled out of Unibet Champion Hurdle
• Owner Michael Buckley 'heartbroken' by decision
• Ian Ogg: 'He has health and new career ahead of him'
• Lewis Tomlinson: Crowds sent into delirium
• Southwell: Full report, reaction and free video replay
• Vicki Gibbins verdict from Friday Night Live
• Timeform hand out big rating of 106P after debut success

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