Constitution Hill has been handed a main Flat ranking of 101 by the BHA handicapper following his second all-weather success at Kempton recently.

The eight-time Grade 1-winning hurdler has actually changed seamlessly to the Flat this year in 2 1m4f amateur races on the all-weather.

On his debut at Southwell in February, the nine-year-old scored by nine and a half lengths under Oisin Murphy and followed up with a two-length success at Kempton last Wednesday with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

BHA handicapper Adam Barnes stated: "Constitution Hill has actually been rated 101, which is a high figure for a horse coming out of beginners. Potentially, it might end up being quite a lax figure for a horse like him with the capability we understand he's obtained from the jumps.

"He was such a high-class hurdler and maintains a lot of that ability. It will be intriguing to see how high he can enter the Flat sphere."

Trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley were eager for another run at Kempton to get a handicap mark for Constitution Hill as they ponder future targets. The recommendation has actually been the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury on April 18 - likewise over a mile and a half - could be an appropriate next race.

After Kempton, Moore showed that distance fits, stating: "I think he's really comfortable at 12 [furlongs]"

Major handicaps such as the Ebor at York in August, for which Constitution Hill is 12-1 favourite with sponsors Sky Bet, and the Melbourne Cup in November have actually been touted as prospective targets later on.

Speaking on the BHA podcast, Barnes included: "Connections have actually pointed out the John Porter as the next target, which is a quite well-established Group 3. Generally speaking, you 'd wish to be running to around 110-plus to get actually associated with a race like that.

"I saw William Haggas mention that horses like Hamish or Al Aasy could go there and they're 117 and 115 horses, so that gives you a concept of the level Constitution Hill will need to be at to win a race like that. Whether he wins or not, they'll have lots of options, be they in Group races or great handicaps, in the season ahead."

In his Racing Post steady trip in Tuesday's edition, Karl Burke stated he was also considering the John Porter for in 2015's French Group 2 winner Convergent.

The four-year-old colt, who has a main rating of 116, was a three-and-a-half-length 3rd behind subsequent Derby winner Lambourn in the Chester Vase and was also a close second in the German Derby.

Hamish was ranked 117 when winning the Newbury contest 2 years back, while in 2015 Divina Grace won it off 100, although she had a 4lb mares' allowance.

Following his Kempton success, William Hill made Constitution Hill an even-money chance to win a Group race on the Flat this year, which would include the John Porter, and 12-1 to land a Group 1. There is presently no market for the John Porter, entries for which close on April 13.

Constitution Hill has actually been designated the exact same 101 figure as proven staying handicappers such as Beylerbeyi, Stressfree and Paddy The Squire.

The six-year-old Beylerbeyi has that mark after winning last year's Cesarewitch, while the year-younger Stressfree has run consistently in Class 2 handicaps between a mile and a quarter and a mile and six furlongs for the last 2 seasons.

Paddy The Squire, also aged 6, has perhaps a more progressive profile having had less starts. He won 3 of his 6 races in 2015, rounding off his season with a 5th (Stressfree in 3rd) in Haydock's Old Borough Cup

Analysis: 101 all however books Ebor place for Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill's opening Flat mark of 101 is high for a very first score, if not distinctively so. You would regularly have actually horses ranked greater making their handicap launching in the Free Handicap, which was run for the last time in 2022.

More to the point, Constitution Hill has most likely reserved his ticket to the Ebor if connections choose for that path. In the last 2 years, the floor on that race has been a BHA mark of 95 and 90, and in the last decade just two times would 101 not have been enough.

As it stands, he needs to enhance quite a bit to win that race. Constitution Hill's Racing Post Rating of 103 is simply 2lb higher than his BHA mark. In 2025, running 2lb greater than your BHA figure would have won just 1.3 per cent of Class 2 handicaps.

Constitution Hill requires to run once again on the Flat before he is eligible for any heritage handicap. That certifying run seems most likely to be in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury.

Finishing close up because race might harm his Ebor chances. The BHA requirement on the John Porter would put even a third-placed finisher someplace around the 110 mark in an average year. So even to finish where the marketplace would likely expect at Newbury would request for significant improvement from Constitution Hill.

If that race does not go to plan, the alleviation would be his connections having four months to get him prepared. He would also have a mark that, while stiff on the face of it, would be very tempting on the basis of his imperious hurdles form.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

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