Master Flat trainer Haggas among those rooting for Constitution Hill

William Haggas and Jamie Osborne have both enjoyed great days alongside Michael Buckley and the leading figures from the Flat are backing the owner’s star performer Constitution Hill to recreate his imperious best at Southwell on Friday night.

All eyes will be on the Nottinghamshire track’s floodlit meeting when Nicky Henderson’s Champion Hurdle hero of 2023 adds a touch of quality to proceedings, and although jumping frailties have blighted his recent outings over obstacles, there will be just 12 rivals to defy this time around.

After an anxious wait to make the final field, Somerville Lodge handler Haggas is now willing Constitution Hill to show his true colours in this maiden voyage on the level, believing his class will see him come to the fore.

Haggas – who knows more than most the pressure that comes with high-profile horses, most recently expertly guiding the career of Baaeed – said: “I’m glad he got in and let’s hope he wins – everyone wants him to win, apart from those in opposition, and I’m sure he will, he’s such a good horse.

“We train for Michael and have known Nicky and Sophie (Henderson) forever. He’s a fabulous horse and it’s just gone a bit pear-shaped at the moment, but I hope he bolts up.

“He’ll have no problem switching to the Flat, he’s got class. They’ve always said he has speed as well and for me watching, he always travels brilliantly. He’s not going to be too slow and not slower than the opposition anyway.”

Henderson’s former jockey and Lamborn neighbour Osborne had both John Galt and Cribbins among the initial 32 entries for the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes, with the former one of those who would have been guaranteed a starting berth after the elimination order was revealed.

Neither will face Constitution Hill, as Osborne will instead be observing the action at the Rolleston track from Dubai where he is enjoying a fine Carnival, but not only does he have a foot in the Henderson camp having ridden the likes of Remittance Man to big-race success in his time at Seven Barrows, but is also the man who trained Buckley’s greatest achiever on the Flat, Toast Of New York.

Toast Of New York, who is arguably one of the best to grace the UK all-weather scene when winning twice at Wolverhampton, once visited Southwell himself to tune up for what would be an agonising defeat at the hands of Bayern in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

But this time around the Buckley silks will be seen in competitive action in Nottinghamshire when Constitution Hill enters the starting stalls.

Osborne said: “When Toast Of New York nearly pulled off the impossible in the Breeders’ Cup Classic he was trying dirt for the first time and this will be a very different test for Constitution Hill, switching to Tapeta and a new surface at Southwell.

“He has looked to have plenty of speed in his races over hurdles and obviously is a good horse. I wish Michael and my old guv’nor Nicky all the luck in the world for what I’m sure is going to be a fascinating race.”