Constitution Hill Finishes Fifth in Milan Flat Debut
The former Champion Hurdle winner ran towards the rear before finishing fifth in Italy's Gran Premio del Jockey Club.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Equestrian
Constitution Hill finished fifth in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club, a mile-and-a-half turf race at the San Siro in Milan, won by German runner Stingray. The result came in his first try at Flat racing on turf, ridden by Rossa Ryan for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Why it matters
The run follows a difficult stretch for the horse, who fell three times in four hurdle outings after returning from a respiratory problem and suspected colic in 2024. Henderson's decision to switch him to the Flat reflects an effort to find a new route for a horse whose hurdling career has been interrupted.
Constitution Hill finished fifth in the mile-and-a-half Gran Premio del Jockey Club after finishing fourth in the Group Three September Stakes earlier this season. He had fallen three times in four hurdle outings after returning in 2024, which led trainer Nicky Henderson to switch him to the Flat.
The players
Constitution Hill
A former Champion Hurdle winner in 2023, the horse is trained by Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows in Lambourn.
Nicky Henderson
A leading British racehorse trainer based at Seven Barrows in Lambourn, who switched the horse from hurdles to the Flat.
Rossa Ryan
A jockey who rode Constitution Hill in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club.
Stingray
A German-trained runner who won the Gran Premio del Jockey Club.
The details
Constitution Hill ran towards the rear of the field for most of the race and was ridden by Rossa Ryan. He had previously won his first two Flat races on all-weather circuits at Southwell and Kempton before moving to turf in Italy.
Timeline
2024: a respiratory problem and suspected colic ruled him out for most of the season.
Earlier in 2026: he turned to Flat racing.
September 2026: he finished fourth in the Group Three September Stakes.
Last Sunday: he finished fifth in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club.
Season Trajectory
The switch from jumps to the Flat departs sharply from the Champion Hurdle form that won the horse his 2023 title, and it reshapes how his season is being read. The Italian run marks a new phase in a career that has been repeatedly interrupted by injury and falls.
The result is a useful marker for fantasy or betting followers tracking Constitution Hill's new Flat campaign. Whether he continues on the Flat or returns to hurdles will shape his entries and the races available to him.
The takeaway
Switching a horse to a new discipline after repeated setbacks can be a practical way to keep a career moving, though early results on unfamiliar ground are rarely decisive. Followers of the sport should watch how the horse handles the Flat over the next few outings before drawing firm conclusions.
Further reading
For more on the sport's competitive circuit, see Equestrian.
