The face of Ross Burdon Racing was at Southwell as Constitution Hill sparkled on the all-weather. Read his latest write-up exclusively for kwiff.

Ross Burdon Racing Blog: Feb 2026 Update

It’s not often I will start a blog talking about someone else’s horses, but, Friday was a special, special day, not just for me, but for racing in general. We were lucky enough to have a runner at Southwell’s Friday Night Live meeting where Ernie’s Valentine lined up in the card opener, but there was no way I was leaving the track before Constitution Hill had made his flat debut.

Ross Burdon Racing: Constitution Hill

There is so much talk about how to attract fans to the races, make new fans and appeal to a younger audience but Fridays meeting proved that the stars of the show, the horses, are what get people to the races. A bumper crowd descended on Southwell on a cold, wet Friday evening to see one horse, the former Champion Hurdler.

Before the race the paddock was buzzing, with the crowd at least three deep on the rails and people standing on benches and tables trying to get a look at Nicky Henderson’s superstar. Once Oisin was on and making his way out to the racetrack there was a huge rush of fans from the paddock to the front of the stands looking to find the best vantage point from which to watch a hurdling great attempt to make the transition to flat racing. 

Ross Burdon Racing: The Southwell Roar

Once the race was underway a huge roar, which wouldn’t have been out of place in the Cotswolds in March, greeted the runners leaving the stalls. Constitution Hill wasn’t the quickest away, jumping relatively slowly in truth, but Oisin was quick to make up the lost ground, keeping Constitution Hill quite wide into the first bend before tucking in just behind the pace.

The pace of the race was honest enough, David Egan, on Amo Racing’s Square Necker, cut out the running at good solid gallop and as the field entered the final bend Egan must have thought he had the field cooked. That was until Constitution Hill loomed up on his inside. Oisin had let out some reign turning in and went from fifth to second almost immediately, it was a move that drew a huge gasp from the crowd, before asking his mount to extend once he entered the straight.

Ross Burdon Racing: Good for Racing

The response was electric, Constitution Hill immediately put almost ten lengths between himself and horses that had run to figures in the high eighties. The crowd responded in raptures, hats were thrown, cheers, clapping and even a few beer cups ended up in the air. Sometimes the sport has an ability to write stories Hollywood couldn’t, this felt like one of them. This was a huge win for racing and the publicity it has garnered can only be a positive. He surely wont jump another hurdle again.

Earlier that evening we had saddled Ernie’s Valentine in the opener, a seven furlong handicap. Seven furlongs is on the sharp side for the horse these days, Ernie travelled very well but just couldn’t match the finishing speed of some of his rivals but it was another solid run in what has been a very productive winter for him. He will have another couple of runs before Good Friday before going on holiday for the summer and a well earned rest. 

Ross Burdon Racing: Beauty Generation

In midweek Beauty Generation made his second start for us after arriving from Ireland in November. We decided to keep Beauty Generation at a mile, even though he looked like he would appreciate a step up in trip on his first start for us, although we definitely be moving up in trip next time, Rhys Clutterbuck was always having to ask BG to stick with the field early on as the pace was very strong early in the race. 

Despite this the horse ran on very well after turning for home, making up lots of ground to eventually finish fifth, something that looked very unlikely after a furlong. We will move up to ten furlongs with him now, it will help him get into a nice rhythm during the early part of the race and he should be able to travel much sweeter just going a stride slower. 

Ross Burdon Racing: Lingfield Bound

This week we are likely to only have one runner, Seventy will return to Lingfield where he was an impressive winner two weeks ago. Even though that win was at a mile and a half we’re coming back in trip two furlongs, his finishing speed off a slow pace last time makes me confident that ten furlongs wont be an issue and the opportunity to run in a 0-65 race for £15000 doesn’t come around very often. 

By Ross Burdon

Please note that the information provided in this article about Ross Burdon Racing Feb Update is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.

18+ | BeGambleAware.org

Supercharge your bets with kwiff