Constitution Hill part of bumper entry for Southwell on Friday

Constitution Hill could face rivals both from the jumps and Flat fraternity after a swelling entry of 32 put their names into the mix for the eagerly-awaited Sbk Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes at Southwell on Friday night.

All eyes will be on the Nottinghamshire track’s Friday Night Live card, as Nicky Henderson’s 2023 Champion Hurdle hero takes to the Tapeta for a first appearance on the level after falling in three of his last four starts.

There is £40,000 up for grabs in the mile-and-a-half contest, with Henderson’s comrades in the training ranks not willing to let the Seven Barrows star have everything his own way.

Good friend and rival Willie Mullins could send over Grade One runner-up Daddy Long Legs, with Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls both entering horses and Fergal O’Brien’s Grade Two-winning hurdler Tripoli Flyer another contender.

Major operations from the Flat represented include Andrew Balding and Charlie Johnston, while Amo Racing’s Dundalk winner Square Necker is in line to make his debut for Kevin Philippart De Foy.

After watching Jonbon notch the 12th Grade One success of his career at Ascot, Henderson said: “Constitution Hill is fine and worked very nicely this morning, everyone is happy.

“He’s had a little go in the stalls and a gallop with Oisin (Murphy) and all was fine so he’s all set to go.”

There may be a slight concern for Henderson ahead of declarations given the vast entry that emerged on Saturday morning and on the complexities of the balloting process, Henderson added: “I can’t work it out and everyone is trying to work out who gets in before who, but we have no idea.

“There’s plenty in there and you can’t divide a £40,000 race, there’s no plan B or plan C and this has been the plan ever since Martin Cruddace and ARC (Arena Racing Company) dreamt it up – it would be bad luck for them if he was balloted out.

“I haven’t studied the entries overly carefully and I was just checking to see how many were in it.

“We can’t ask for preferential treatment and some people aren’t happy about the prize-money for this sort of race, but you just have to look at the interest it is creating and it can’t be a bad thing for racing.

“I nearly put four others in last night to try to do a Ballydoyle with some pacemakers and others to help out, but I’m glad I didn’t.”