Paul Nicholls Dismisses Constitution Hill's Flat Debut as 'Hype About Nothing'
Fourteen-time champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls has delivered a scathing assessment of Constitution Hill's upcoming Flat debut, labelling the much-publicised event as "a lot of hype about nothing." The former Champion Hurdle winner is set to make his first appearance on the Flat this Friday at Southwell's all-weather track, competing in a £40,000 novice event over one mile and four furlongs.
High-Profile Switch Amid Jumping Struggles
The race, which will feature as part of ITV's Friday Night Live programme, has generated intense public and media interest. Trainer Nicky Henderson selected this unconventional route after Constitution Hill's jumping career faltered dramatically, with the horse falling in three of his last four starts over obstacles.
Depending on the outcome of Friday's performance under champion jockey Oisin Murphy, connections may still consider running the star jumper in the Champion Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival, though this would involve significant risk given his recent record.
Nicholls' Alternative Approach
In his Betfair blog, Nicholls expressed strong disagreement with Henderson's strategy. "I'm different to Nicky Henderson, who is obviously a fantastic trainer," Nicholls stated. "If Constitution Hill were my horse, I would have run him in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last weekend."
Nicholls elaborated that a straightforward hurdles race would have provided better preparation for Cheltenham. "If he had cantered around Wincanton he would probably have won with his head in his chest and it would have done him good," he argued. "What will be achieved by running him on the Flat, I don't know."
Questioning the Learning Value
The champion trainer was particularly sceptical about what could be learned from the Flat experiment. "There is a lot of hype about nothing really," Nicholls insisted. "It is good to see Constitution Hill out there again, but you are not going to learn anything about him by running him on the Flat."
He pointed to Constitution Hill's pedigree as further evidence, noting: "Remember, he ran in a point-to-point and got beat. He is by Blue Bresil and you do not see too many Blue Bresil's win on the Flat."
Historical Precedent and Personal Stance
Nicholls made his position unequivocally clear regarding his own training methods. "Would I have ever sent one of my hurdling stars on the Flat ahead of the Cheltenham Festival? Definitely not," he declared. Using his former star Big Buck's as an example, he added humorously: "If Big Buck's, say, had run on the Flat over a mile-and-a-half we would still be looking for him."
Constitution Hill's Cheltenham Prospects
Despite his criticism of the Flat debut, Nicholls acknowledged Constitution Hill's underlying quality. "It would not surprise me if Constitution Hill were to run in the Champion Hurdle," he conceded. "He is still a class horse and will probably be the best horse in the field."
However, he highlighted the psychological challenge facing the horse: "He has got to get over two or three falls." Nicholls also recognised the pressure on Henderson and the racing community, noting there is "a lot of pressure on Nicky and racing for him to run."
Nicholls' Own Runner and Light-Hearted Remark
Interestingly, Nicholls has a rare Flat runner of his own in the same race - the 50-1 shot Nardaran, who has won three times over hurdles and finished third in his only previous Flat outing. Nicholls offered a humorous explanation for the entry: "That's only because Nicky wanted a pacemaker and offered me a case of champagne to enter him. I'm joking, of course."
He provided a more serious rationale for Nardaran's participation: "He has had a run on the Flat so we thought we would let him have a day out, go and enjoy himself. If he gets placed, we will be delighted."
Ongoing Preparation and Uncertainty
Meanwhile, Constitution Hill has continued to undergo specialist jumping schooling under renowned guru Yogi Breisner, maintaining readiness for a potential return to his primary discipline. The Flat debut represents a bold experiment by Henderson, who finds himself in what Nicholls described as "a no-win situation."
"If Constitution Hill wins great, if he doesn't win, they will all be crabbing him," Nicholls observed. "But Nicky knows what he is doing so you have to trust him and his belief in his horse." The racing world now awaits Friday's race with heightened anticipation, wondering whether this unconventional move will prove inspired or misguided.
