Constitution Hill makes his flat debut, but he isn't favourite to win.
The 7.30 at Southwell, the £40,000 SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes over 1m4f on Tapeta, is no ordinary Friday night all-weather contest. It has been transformed into one of the most scrutinised Flat races of the winter by the presence of Constitution Hill, who makes his long-awaited debut on the level.
An eight-time Grade One winner and imperious in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, Constitution Hill now steps into a very different arena: a 12-furlong novice against seasoned and progressive Flat performers, from a wide draw in stall 12, on a surface he has never raced in public. With reigning champion jockey Oisin Murphy booked, connections are clearly intent on giving him every chance, but this is far from a ceremonial spin.
The race itself has depth. Square Necker arrives as a lightly raced, upwardly mobile four-year-old with proven all-weather form at Dundalk and the profile of a typical improving Flat type. Willie Mullins fields Daddy Long Legs, a 152-rated hurdler who has already shown how difficult the switch in codes can be when beaten at short odds in a maiden at Ballinrobe.
For punters weighing up the odds, the central question is not what Constitution Hill has achieved over obstacles, but how that ability translates to this specific test: 1m4f around Southwell’s sweeping turns, likely run at a sharper rhythm than a Grade 1 hurdle.
It is precisely that uncertainty which makes the race so compelling from a betting perspective. If he reproduces even a fraction of his peak hurdling brilliance, he could simply outclass them. If he shows ring-rust, hesitates from the gates, or finds the surface blunting his turn of foot, he is opposable at short odds.
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Constitution Hill Odds to win tonight at Southwell
| Horse | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Square Necker | 2/1 | Spreadex |
| Constitution Hill | 9/4 | Betway |
| Tripoli Flyer | 5/1 | Ladbrokes |
| Daddy Long Legs | 11/2 | William Hill |
| Gambino | 16/1 | BetVictor |
Odds correct as of 12:00 on 20/02/2026.
Constitution Hill is a best price of 2/1 with SpreadEX at the time of publishing.
He has taken 61% of total bets to win this race through oddschecker today.
The market has made its position clear on Constitution Hill, pricing this novice stakes almost as though it were a two-mile hurdle at Cheltenham rather than a 1m4f Tapeta contest at Southwell.
Unlike the headline act, Square Necker arrives with tangible, recent Flat evidence. He was beaten just three-quarters of a length on debut by the now 104-rated Bedouin Prince at Doncaster, strong form in the context of a race like this, before stepping forward markedly at Dundalk in December. That night he relished the move up in trip, putting nearly four lengths between himself and the 93-rated Nuit despite conceding 5lb.
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Constitution Hill Champion Hurdle Odds
While today’s Flat test tells us little about his jumping, a strong showing would at least suggest Constitution Hill has retained enough class and confidence to remain in the conversation for a return to the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.
He a 9/2 third favourite (best price AKBets) in the ante post markets before today's race.
| Horse | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| The New Lion | 14/5 | AKBets |
| Brighterdaysahead | 10/3 | Bet Goodwin |
| Constitution Hill | 9/2 | AKBets |
| Lossiemouth | 6/1 | Bresbet |
| Golden Ace | 7/1 | William Hill |
| Poniros | 16/1 | Ladbrokes |
Odds correct as of 12:00 on 20/02/2026.
