Constitution Hill is not guaranteed a run in the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell on Friday night following a random ballot on Sunday.
Nicky Henderson’s 2023 Champion Hurdle winner is scheduled to make his Flat debut on the Nottinghamshire track’s Friday Night Live card, having fallen in three of his last four starts over obstacles.
The nine-year-old was one of 32 entries for the £40,000 contest, although it later transpired Thankyou Baroness does not qualify, and the maximum field for the race will either be 12 or 14 depending on available stabling capacity and whether other races on the card divide.
With a ballot number of 16, Constitution Hill needs two of those ahead of him in the elimination sequence not to be declared to get into a field of 14, or four if the race is capped at 12 runners.
Henderson said on Saturday there was “no plan B or plan C” for his Seven Barrows superstar — and speaking on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme ahead of the ballot, he was again hoping Constitution Hill would make the cut.
He said: “We hatched this plan some time ago and it would be a serious backfire if he didn’t get in — I’d be lost as to what we’re going to do next.
“We’ll cross that bridge (when we come to it). The whole thing has been terrific and fair play to Martin Cruddace and ARC (Arena Racing Company) for going ahead with it, but at the same time it would be very sad for us and them if it didn’t come off.
“It’s created a lot of interest, which I can only think is good for the game. It involves a lot of talking and games, but on the other hand, the day that these things don’t get you excited is probably the day to give it up anyway.
“We’re very lucky that we’ve got these horses that create a lot of public interest and I’ve got to say I love it.”
Constitution Hill remains in the mix for the Unibet Champion Hurdle on the opening day of next month’s Cheltenham Festival and Henderson has been keeping his training routine varied.
He added: “He’s been jumping and he’s probably confused.com — one morning it’s starting stalls and the next day it’s hurdles!
“He’s having a lovely time, it’s kept him amused and he worked on Saturday and was great.”
Fergal O’Brien’s Tripoli Flyer has not been given a ballot number and is therefore guaranteed a starting berth at Southwell.
The seven-year-old was not disgraced behind Constitution Hill’s sidelined stablemate Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day and was last seen going close in handicap company at Ascot in January.
O’Brien said: “We had Tripoli Flyer in at Ascot on Saturday, but he ran there last time on soft ground and finished second and didn’t love the ground, so we were happy not to go there in tacky ground and have a spin round Southwell instead.
“It’s interesting and I can understand the Flat lads being peeved, but it’s £40,000 and they can put their horses in there as well if they want to.
“I think it’s great for racing as people are talking about it and the first Friday night (in the Friday Night Live series) was a good success.
“I’m looking forward to it, he’s got a lot of speed — he showed that round Lingfield in his second bumper when his fractions were phenomenal.”
Dan Skelton’s Gambino, the Willie Mullins-trained Daddy Long Legs, and Nardaran from Paul Nicholls’ yard are others in the mix that have not received a ballot number.
Of the latter, Nicholls said: “I just stuck him in and I’m not sure if are going to run him or not.
“Our lad actually wants good ground and he’s not run for a while, so I thought a mile and a half on the Flat might be ideal. He’s had a run on the Flat earlier in his career in France and finished third, so we will see.”
