English/Ire
Oisin Murphy in contention for Constitution Hill spin
Nicky Henderson has revealed that champion jockey Oisin Murphy is in contention to ride Constitution Hill on his flat debut at Southwell next month.
The former Champion Hurdle hero has fallen on three of his last four starts and looks set to switch to the flat for the first time at Southwell after the introduction of a £40,000 mile-and-a-half novice race.
There has been much discussion about who will take the ride when the star hurdler, who will be a huge attraction at the new Friday Night Live series, switches the flat next month, with both Rob Hornby and Tom Marquand names in the mix.
However, Henderson revealed via his Unibet blog on Thursday that owner Michael Buckley has been "in conversation" with Oisin Murphy about the possibility of taking the ride.
He said: "I'm sure many of you have seen the video of Constitution Hill having his stalls practice this week and everything seems to be going well in that department. He's also going to do some schooling with Yogi Breisner next week so we're definitely keeping him busy!
"I think the objective to running him at Southwell is so I can hopefully see what potential he has for racing on the Flat and if we can go further down that route.
"He is in great form and if it continues that way he will definitely run on February 20 and that will then tell us what future he has, or if we have to start thinking again.
"There has been much speculation as to who will ride him at Southwell and I can tell you that no decision has been made, except to say that Michael Buckley has been in discussions with Oisin Murphy and, obviously we'll have to see where he is at the time, but if he's available it's quite possible he could ride.
"If that wasn't to be the case, we have Rob Hornby who rides out for us on occasions and rode at the Newbury gallops morning in November. He's a very good jockey, although I don't think we'll be short of applicants!"
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