“He’s back in and we’re cantering away. He’s not done any fast work yet, but so far all is good and he looks terrific."
Trainer Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Constitution Hill is working away ahead of a potential tilt in the Ebor Handicap at York in August.
The nine-year-old has been off the track since the end of March but is starting to prepare for the resumption of his intriguing career on the Flat.
A former star of the national hunt game, Constitution Hill won the Champion Hurdle in 2023 but has since switched codes to the level after falling in three of his last four starts over obstacles.
The Blue Bresil gelding has rattled off two wins from two starts since switching to the Flat but requires an all-important third start in order to qualify for his intended target during York's four-day flagship meeting in August.
With £500,000 on offer for the winner, Henderson will be itching to get that third run in and has acknowledged that he may need to "hurry" his prep in order to get ready for a qualifying effort.
“He’s back in and we’re cantering away. He’s not done any fast work yet, but so far all is good and he looks terrific," said Henderson.
“We’re intending to be ready for the middle of August and he’s got lots of options. The Ebor is one, but he does need to run before it to have his third run.
“Timing-wise we might not have time to get that in, but he had to have a realistic break in the summer. It’s not out of the question, but we’ll need to hurry up a bit.”
A whole host of trainers who are more known for their exploits in the national hunt sphere have plundered Ebor success down the years. Willie Mullins has won the race on three occasions, including last year with Ethical Diamond, while both Henry De Bromhead and Gordon Elliott have also got their hands on the trophy.
Ethical Diamond went onto achieve even greater success after his Ebor win by getting his head in front in the Breeders' Cup Turf last November.
Although Constitution Hill might not scale those heights on the Flat, connections have handed him an entry in the Group 1 Irish St Leger. Won by the likes of Vintage Crop, Yeats and Kyprios in the past, it is one of Ireland's most revered prizes.
