Henderson and Buckley so proud on an extraordinary night at Southwell

Bright lights, student nights, over 3,000 people and a certain Constitution Hill.

Friday Night Live was the DJ decks-pumping, speed dating-inspired racing revolution set to lure a younger audience to the racecourse – but for at least one night only, it was an equine great that ensured all eyes were on a fascinating contest under the Southwell floodlights.

The Flat debut of the 2023 Champion Hurdle hero perhaps was not what the organisers had in mind when this concept was created. But fate and the unfathomable jumping frailties of the once sure-footed nine-year-old made for a must-see event that had racing aficionados joining students from Nottingham University in flocking to Rolleston for the hottest ticket in town.

Just two days after seeing Blue Run win a minor maiden hurdle in front of a far smaller crowd Nottinghamshire, the master of Seven Barrows made the trip north to see what National Hunt racing’s pre-eminent star could do on his Flat bow.

A brief fire alarm in the Minster Suite, doubling up as a restaurant and an overflow press room, only added to the pre-race drama, not that anyone was in a hurry to leave their seats.

The jockeys walked out to dance music all evening, with earlier tracks including Freed From Desire and Friday featuring Mufasa and Hypeman. For the main event, though, it was was David Guetta’s Titanium, with the lyrics of ‘bulletproof, nothing to lose’ echoing around the track as Oisin Murphy stepped into a parade ring surrounded by hundreds of racegoers desperate to get a look at the big horse.

A mini Cheltenham roar left the grandstand when the stalls opened and the decibels went into a different stratosphere a few short minutes later, as Constitution Hill brought the house down with a nine-and-a-half-length demolition that must have warmed each and every heart in attendance, young and old.

Fighting back the tears as the fervent crowd welcomed the superstar gelding back into the winner’s enclosure, Henderson said: “The great thing is, these older horses do something for people don’t they? To see that crowd tonight, even before the race – they love them.

“He’s had his troubles, but it’s all worthwhile when it comes back.

“It’s wonderful to see this crowd tonight. When the race was being framed I was asked ‘will he mind the crowd, it will be quite noisy on the night’. I said he’d be very disappointed if the place was empty!

“He doesn’t know how to turn a hair, that’s how he lives.”

The veteran trainer was keen to thank the powers that be for providing him with an opportunity to give his charge a Flat outing that would have seemed so unlikely prior to his recent travails, even if it has caused him a few headaches in the last week.

“I just thought the whole thing was great for racing. Thank you to Martin Cruddace and Arc (Arena Racing Company), they came to the call when I wanted a race for him – they put it on and it gave us the opportunity to see what he could do,” he continued.

“They put on some fantastic prize-money and well done to the sponsors, but by putting on that prize-money they’ve made the race for too competitive for my liking! I wanted a nice easy time, and then all of a sudden these fancy Flat horses were turning up.

“I think you only have to look at the crowd to see it’s been a great evening for racing. British racing must be proud that these things can be put on, and we appreciate it too.”

It was a similar story for loyal owner Michael Buckley, far from a Southwell regular but who in fact has some symmetry with the dual-purpose track track after it served as the destination for his flagship Flat performer Toast Of New York’s Breeders’ Cup warm-up in 2014.

He said: “He’s awesome, isn’t he? Let’s face it, he’s kind of extra-terrestrial and a bit freakish.

“We know he has this ability, but it’s got lost in all the heartbreak over the last 12 or 18 months, but there he is – he’s started a Flat career at nine and looked like he could be a contender in some decent races.

“It’s been a nightmare, honestly. Every owner longs to have a special horse like him, so even when you think you’re relaxed, you’re not sleeping as well as you think you might be.

“It’s been the let down of seeing this horse lose his way, it’s just heartbreaking, so I’ve been pretty quiet lately.

“Today he was pretty damn good, I think. I love the horse to death and I love the people that love him.”

Southwell, of course, is no stranger to welcoming the greats of the Flat game, with Toast Of New York joined by Coolmore Galacticos Giant’s Causeway, Galileo and most recently City Of Troy in gracing the synthetics in exhibition.

There will be no sparkling floodlights but far more in attendance if Constitution Hill’s next outing is in the Champion Hurdle.

Only time will tell whether the the SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes lives up to its title as a footstep on the path to Prestbury Park redemption, or serve as the starting point to a new career entirely.

Buckley added: “I don’t know (whether he’ll go to Cheltenham). I think we need to think about it.

“If he doesn’t we’ve got other options. I honestly don’t know, but he’s a contender wherever he runs next.”