Trainer Nick Alexander is contemplating a bold move to pit his recent Ayr winner Platin Moon against the star hurdler Constitution Hill on the Flat. The nine-year-old Constitution Hill, trained by Nicky Henderson and winner of the 2023 Champion Hurdle, is set to make his Flat debut in a novice stakes at Southwell on February 20 over one mile and four furlongs.
The race, part of a Friday Night Live fixture, carries a total purse of £40,000. Alexander, based in Fife, is tempted to enter Platin Moon, whose hurdles rating of 100 is 70lb below that of Constitution Hill. “I will watch the entries just to see, and if the race looks like it’s not filling with much, we might give it a go,” said Alexander. He noted that if only a few runners contest, a substantial prize would be on offer, especially a decent second-place sum.
Alexander’s recent Flat experience is limited; his only Flat runner in five years, Wakool, ran unplaced at York. However, Platin Moon previously ran on the Flat in France, finishing third at Clairefontaine in August 2024 when trained by Andreas Suborics. “He ran very well – he wasn’t beaten very far,” Alexander added, noting the trip would suit the horse perfectly.
