Hayley Turner OBE has explained why it is unlikely that more horses will follow in Constitution Hill's footsteps and pursue a career on the Flat. The Michael Buckley-owned gelding began his career with an incredible streak of 10 consecutive victories in the jumps, marking him as one of the greatest prospects in racing history.
Constitution Hill's Remarkable Transition
Having won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, his crowning moment came with a record-breaking performance in the Champion Hurdle a year later, where he proved completely untouchable. But following three falls in the nine-year-old's last four jump races, a decision was made for the son of Blue Bresil to pursue a career on the Flat.
Nicky Henderson's former superstar hurdler has made a brilliant start to his new career, with all-weather wins at Southwell and Kempton. However, Turner, speaking to the Mirror courtesy of bet365 Horse Racing Hub, does not expect more horses to make the switch in years to come.
Why the Switch Is Rare
She said: "It is not an easy thing to do because jump horses are generally a lot slower and they are trained to be slower. They are older, and it is not often you get a horse like Constitution Hill that can show that turn of foot, like they do on the Flats. As much as we would like it, I don't think it is going to be a massive change because he is an exceptional horse, I think."
Turner's Trailblazing Career
In 2011, Turner became the first female jockey to ride a Group One winner in Great Britain, guiding Dream Ahead to victory in the July Cup at Newmarket, before winning on Margot Did in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York a month later. The now 43-year-old was a trailblazer for female riders on the Flat, with her accolades including becoming the first woman to ride 100 winners in a calendar year in 2008 and the first European woman to ride 1,000 international winners in November 2023.
She completed her 1,000th British success in July 2024 before calling time on her career as a jockey in April last year. Now working as a pundit, Turner will be part of ITV covering the Chester Cup later this week and she is in no doubt what her favourite Flat meeting of the year is.
Favourite Flat Meeting
"I always love Royal Ascot, but I am doing the three days at Chester for ITV Racing this May straight after the Guineas, and it is a really good, fun day," she said. "But also Aidan (O'Brien) always sends his good horses, like the winner of the Oaks and the Derby, both of which ran and won there last year. It is just a good springboard for them, and I think that Aidan and a lot of other trainers think it sharpens their horses up. So I think Chester, as well as it being a fun day, is also a great prep run for horses."
Three Horses to Follow
When asked for three horses to keep an eye on this season, Turner replied: "Time For Sandals, Harry Eustace, but she has already won a Group One. Caviar Cowboy, Fanshawe, La Botte, Harry Eustace haven't reached their true potential yet and was a little bit disappointing at Doncaster, but I don't think that was him."
