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Constitution Hill has been handed an official Flat score of 101 by the BHA handicapper following his second all-weather success at Kempton recently.
The eight-time Grade 1-winning hurdler has changed flawlessly to the Flat this year in 2 1m4f amateur races on the all-weather.
On his launching at Southwell in February, the nine-year-old scored by nine and a half lengths under Oisin Murphy and followed up with a two-length success at Kempton last Wednesday with Ryan Moore in the saddle.
BHA handicapper Adam Barnes stated: "Constitution Hill has actually been rated 101, which is a high figure for a horse coming out of newbies. Potentially, it could turn out to be rather a lax figure for a horse like him with the ability we understand he's got from the dives.
"He was such a high-class hurdler and retains lots of that ability. It will be fascinating to see how high he can go in the Flat sphere."
Trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley were eager for another run at Kempton to get a handicap mark for Constitution Hill as they consider future targets. The idea has actually been the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury on April 18 - likewise over a mile and a half - could be an ideal next race.
After Kempton, Moore showed that range fits, saying: "I think he's really comfy at 12 [furlongs]"
Major handicaps such as the Ebor at York in August, for which Constitution Hill is 12-1 favourite with sponsors Sky Bet, and the Melbourne Cup in November have actually been touted as potential targets later.
Speaking on the BHA podcast, Barnes included: "Connections have mentioned the John Porter as the next target, which is a pretty reputable Group 3. Generally speaking, you 'd wish to be running to around 110-plus to get truly associated with a race like that.
"I saw William Haggas mention that horses like Hamish or Al Aasy might go there and they're 117 and 115 horses, so that gives you an idea of the level Constitution Hill will need to be at to win a race like that. Whether he wins or not, they'll have lots of choices, be they in Group races or excellent handicaps, in the season ahead."
In his Racing Post stable trip in Tuesday's edition, Karl Burke stated he was also thinking about the John Porter for last year's French Group 2 winner Convergent.
The four-year-old colt, who has a main score of 116, was a three-and-a-half-length 3rd behind subsequent Derby winner Lambourn in the Chester Vase and was likewise a close second in the German Derby.
Hamish was ranked 117 when winning the Newbury contest two years back, while in 2015 Divina Grace won it off 100, although she had a 4lb mares' allowance.
Following his Kempton success, William Hill made Constitution Hill an even-money possibility to win a Group race on the Flat this year, which would of the John Porter, and 12-1 to land a Group 1. There is currently no market for the John Porter, entries for which close on April 13.
Constitution Hill has actually been designated the same 101 figure as proven staying handicappers such as Beylerbeyi, Stressfree and Paddy The Squire.
The six-year-old Beylerbeyi has that mark after winning in 2015's Cesarewitch, while the year-younger Stressfree has run regularly in Class 2 handicaps between a mile and a quarter and a mile and 6 furlongs for the last 2 seasons.
Paddy The Squire, likewise aged 6, has perhaps a more progressive profile having had fewer starts. He won three of his 6 races last year, completing off his season with a 5th (Stressfree in 3rd) in Haydock's Old Borough Cup
Analysis: 101 all but books Ebor place for Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill's opening Flat mark of 101 is high for a very first score, if not uniquely so. You would regularly have actually horses ranked higher making their handicap launching in the Free Handicap, which was run for the last time in 2022.
More to the point, Constitution Hill has most likely scheduled his ticket to the Ebor if connections opt for that route. In the last two years, the floor on that race has been a BHA mark of 95 and 90, and in the last years only twice would 101 not have sufficed.
As it stands, he needs to enhance a fair bit to win that race. Constitution Hill's Racing Post Rating of 103 is just 2lb higher than his BHA mark. In 2025, running 2lb higher than your BHA figure would have won just 1.3 per cent of Class 2 handicaps.
Constitution Hill needs to run once again on the Flat before he is qualified for any heritage handicap. That certifying run promises to be in the John Porter Stakes at Newbury.
Finishing close up because race could damage his Ebor opportunities. The BHA requirement on the John Porter would put even a third-placed finisher someplace around the 110 mark in a typical year. So even to complete where the market would likely expect at Newbury would request for significant enhancement from Constitution Hill.
If that race does not go to strategy, the alleviation would be his connections having four months to get him prepared. He would likewise have a mark that, while stiff on the face of it, would be really tempting on the basis of his imperious hurdles form.
Keith Melrose, betting editor
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