Paul Nicholls Exclusive: I'd have run Constitution Hill at Wincanton and not Southwell

• Paul Nicholls gives his views on Constitution Hill's Flat outing tonight

• He's still a class horse and could win a Champion Hurdle says Paul

• Sam Turner also gives his verdict on tonight's much-anticipated race

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I would have ran Constitution Hill in the Kingwell Hurdle last week 

There has been plenty of publicity about Constitution Hill running on the Flat on Friday this week. I'm different to Nicky Henderson, who is obviously a fantastic trainer, in that, if Constitution Hill were my horse, I would have run him in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last weekend. I know he has had a fall but if you are thinking about running him in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month, if he had cantered around Wincanton he would probably have won with his head in his chest and it would have done him good.

What will be achieved by running him on the Flat, I don't know. Nicky is in a no-win situation in that, if Constitution Hill wins great, if he doesn't win, they will all be crabbing him. But Nicky knows what he is doing so you have to trust him and his belief in his horse. There is a lot of hype about nothing really. It is good to see Constitution Hill out there again, but you are not going to learn anything about him by running him on the Flat.

Remember, he ran in a point-to-point and got beat. He is by Blue Bresil and you do not see too many Blue Bresil's win on the Flat, but he is a high-class horse so let's see what happens. Would I have ever sent one of my hurdling stars on the Flat ahead of the Cheltenham Festival? Definitely not. If Big Buck's, say, had run on the Flat over a mile-and-a-half we would still be looking for him.

It would not surprise me if Constitution Hill were to run in the Champion Hurdle, but whether he will win I don't know. He has got to get over two or three falls, but he is still a class horse and will probably be the best horse in the field. There is a lot of pressure on Nicky and racing for him to run.

Delighted if Nardaran gets placed

That said, I do have a runner in tonight's race, Nardaran, but that's only because Nicky wanted a pacemaker and offered me a case of champagne to enter him. I'm joking, of course.

Nardaran has been working away, he can't run on soft ground, so we have been waiting for better ground and may be waiting for a while yet. He has had a run on the Flat so we thought we would let him have a day out, go and enjoy himself. If he gets placed, we will be delighted.

Sam Turner:  Southwell the stage for latest chapter of the Constitution story

The saga surrounding Constitution Hill's flat debut will be resolved when the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner finally sets foot on the Tapeta for his eagerly-awaited comeback in the Road to Cheltenham Novice Stakes at 19:30.

Following three falls and a submission on his last four hurdles outings, Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old tackles 13 rivals as he embarks on his new vocation and, although the early betting suggested all Constitution Hill had to do was turn up to collect the vastly inflated first prize, the market has altered to reflect the competitive nature of the mile-and-a-half novice event.

Dundalk winner Square Necker, priced up an 11/112.00 chance by one firm, is now a well-backed second favourite, while the likes of Daddy Long Legs and Gowran maiden winner Gambino add further intrigue to a fascinating race.

If I was looking for an interest, the latter would make some appeal on his debut for Dan Skelton since joining from Noel Meade, but he was withdrawn from his hurdles bow with a bruised foot in January so after 191-days off the track, his match sharpness is open to question.  

Below you can watch how the Betfair Exchange market develops with the prices updated in real time.

Listen to this week's Racing...Only Bettor

Now read Paul Nicholls on his Saturday runners here.