Horse Racing Specials: Constitution Hill will run at Southwell and he is fancied to win

• Constitution Hill was set to miss race designed for him

• But final decs confirmed his spot 

• And Nicky Henderson's star is the favourite with the Betfair Sportsbook

• For the latest Betfair Racing odds click here

• Click here for more racing betting tips

Wednesday Februray 18

Constitution Hill will run at Southwell and is favourite

Constitution Hill will run at Southwell this Friday following final declarations for the race. 

The 2023 Champion Hurdle winner was not in the original 14 runner field following a random ballot to allocate places. 

However, four were taken out of the race at the final declaration stage and Nicky Henderson's star hurdler will take his place in the race. 

The Betfair Sportsbook's latest odds for the 1m4f Road to Cheltenham Stakes show him as the 5/42.25 favourite to win. 

Betfair spokesperson James Mackie had this to say about the race and the latest betting: "Constitution Hill's confirmation to race on Friday at Southwell is huge news for racing fans everywhere and he is 5/42.25 with Betfair to get a much-needed win on the Flat.

"The Kevin Philippart De Foy-trained Square Necker appears to be his big danger at Southwell at 7/4 while Willie Mullins' runner Daddy Long Legs is next in the market at 7/24.50.

"Constitution Hill is also 7/24.50 to regain his crown in the NRNB Champion Hurdle market at the Cheltenham Festival next month and regain his crown at Prestbury Park."

Monday Februray 16

Nightmare scenario playing out for Nicky Henderson

Constitution Hill's participation in a a preparation race on the Flat at Southwell on Friday night - a race that was specifically created for trainer Nicky Henderson to get the former Champion Hurdler ready for next month's Cheltenham Festival - is in doubt.

That's because the £40k added prizemoney, with £21,600 going to the winner, has pricked up the ears of many other owners and trainers, and at the five-day entry stage a total of 32 horses were entered... for a race that will have a maximum of 14 runners!

It's turning into a nightmare scenario for trainer Nicky Henderson who admits that there are very few alternative options for his star hurdler should he not get into Friday's 1m4f Road to Cheltenham Novice Stakes.

On learning about the number of entries, Henderson said, "Let's hope there's a couple in there who don't need to run. It'd be very sad if he didn't get in because a lot of work has gone into putting this together and it's had a lot of media coverage, which has been good fun. 

"It's a good thing it's caused a lot of interest, but it'll be a pity if he has to miss the party. It would be Sod's Law, but life is life."

How Constitution Hill can get in the race

Unlike a handicap race, where if 32 horses were entered for a race that had a maximum of 14 runners, the 14 runners at the top of the handicap would get in, all 32 horses entered in a Novice Stakes are equally entitled to run.

The means that a random ballot had to take place to determine the order in which the 32 entries for Friday's race were ranked.

It could have been a lot worse for Constitution Hill as he was number 16 in the elimination sequence, meaning the best-case scenario is that he only needs two of the 15 horses above him to come out, and with one of those horses being Secret Squirrel, who ran on Saturday and is almost certainly not going to run on Friday, he effectively only needs one more horse to come out to get in the race himself.

But the plot thickens.

Stabling capacity limits at Southwell mean that should there be lots of runners declared on the eight-race card, the maximum number of runners for Constitution Hill's race will go down to 12, meaning he would need at least four horses above him in the elimination sequence - three if we think Secret Squirrel won't run - to come out.

Owners and trainers may publicly declare that they don't intend to run, bu we won't know for certain if Constitution Hill will be in the race until Wednesday's 48-hour declaration stage.

EDIT @ 18:00 Monday 16 February

The BHA have approved a plan for Southwell to enlarge its stabling capacity to accommodate two more horses. The extra two spots will allow Constitution Hill's race to be run as a 14-runner contest, meaning that he now only needs two horses above him in the ballot list (one likely to be Secret Squirrel) to come out in order to get a run.

Will he or won't he run?

That is the question.

It seems farcical that a race that was created purely for Constitution Hill to have a Cheltenham Festival prep run, may end up not having the star attraction go to post. 

On the Betfair Exchange you can bet on whether the 9yo will run on Friday, with the current feeling that he will get in the race with the Yes option available to back at 1.330/100. You can track the odds in real time in the below market.

Check out our Mega Guide to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival here