Jumps guru to help Constitution Hill but becoming a Flat track bully is first concern

Constitution Hill makes a mistake at the final flight on his way to winning the Unibet Hurdle on Cheltenham Trials day last year. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA

Nicky Henderson, the trainer of Constitution Hill, said on Friday that he is focusing “on Southwell at the moment and only on Southwell” before the former Champion Hurdler’s Flat racing debut on 20 February, despite having booked the legendary jumping specialist, Yogi Breisner, to work with the nine-year-old earlier this week.

Constitution Hill had already secured a place among the hurdling greats when he set off for last year’s Champion Hurdle as the 1-2 favourite, but a crashing fall four out seemed to shatter his confidence and he has fallen twice in three starts since.