Horse Racing
Oisin Murphy and fellow jockeys impressed with Constitution Hill
Oisin Murphy had to watch on as Constitution Hill dazzled under the floodlights at Kempton Park on Wednesday evening – but was again impressed as the horse he helped get off the mark remained unbeaten in his new adventure on the Flat.
With the champion jockey suspended, Ryan Moore who took over the steering at a well-attended Sunbury venue, and Murphy has been in touch with his weighing-room colleague since to compare notes on the former Champion Hurdler who is proving a star attraction in his new venture.
Murphy said: “I was unable to watch it live, but I watched it back as soon as I could.
“I felt it was very smooth and he picked up with a fast change of pace.
“I spoke to Ryan both before and after the race and he was really pleased with Constitution Hill.”
It appears Newbury’s John Porter Stakes on April 18 could prove the next port of call for Constitution Hill and when asked if he would relish the opportunity of a reunion with the nine-year-old, Murphy added: “Of course!”
Constitution Hill’s appearance at Kempton saw an uplift in the average crowd figure for a midweek fixture of 1,000 as 1,477 descended on the London track for a glimpse of Nicky Henderson’s pride and joy.
James Doyle was in action before jetting off to Dubai for World Cup night and was one to recognise the interest the Flat convert has made, with the new turf season about to begin.
He said: “He’s looked good and people like to see him. He’s a Champion Hurdler and people love coming out to see those horses so it’s great to have him on the Flat.”
Hollie Doyle is another member of the Flat racing fraternity to be excited by what she has seen from the early stages of Constitution Hill’s switch to the level.
She was in opposition aboard Dan Skelton’s Gambino when they finished third behind the Seven Barrows star at Southwell last month and felt there he displayed all the attributes to make his mark in his new discipline.
She said: “He was pretty impressive at Southwell when I was on Gambino and they didn’t go an overly strong gallop. The way he put the race to bed, for a horse that stays that well, was really good.
“People always assume stayers are slow, but I know Trueshan wasn’t slow and if you ran him over a mile he would try to run away with you, and Constitution Hill hinted that he could be similar.
“He seemed to show the class and the gears needed to have an impact on the Flat and didn’t present like a slow horse.”
