Michael Buckley

Big-time Brit Constitution Hill drew the crowds to Kempton on Wednesday evening and left them thoroughly satisfied with another easy win on his Flat renaissance. Coming off a moderate pace to overwhelm the unexposed Andrew Balding-trained Classical Allusion (Ulysses) a furlong out, the 1-7 favourite made the winning distance two lengths at the line. Ryan Moore was impressed. "He's a gentleman," he said of the nine-year-old who bar jumping frailties would by now have been a legend in the other sphere. "He moved well and I think there's a bit...

Constitution Hill is one of 10 entries for Wednesday's Virgin Bet Novice Stakes at Kempton Park, with Ryan Moore set to take over in the saddle from the suspended Oisin Murphy when the son of Blue Bresil attempts to build on a hugely impressive start to his Flat career at Southwell last month. Trained by Nicky Henderson for owner Michael Buckley, Constitution Hill proved himself an outstanding hurdler when breaking the track record to win the G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 22 lengths at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. He went...

Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Constitution Hill will not run in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 10. A Flat career is now on the cards for the star of the jumping ranks, but his trainer said that racegoers will still have the chance to see him at Cheltenham as Constitution Hill will parade at the course to give his National Hunt fans "the opportunity to say goodbye". Henderson and the nine-year-old's owner Michael Buckley have been mulling over options for the horse since his highly impressive...

Owner Michael Buckley is dreaming big regarding Flat targets for Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil), after the nine-year-old trotted up an imperious winner at Southwell on Friday. Although Buckley and trainer Nicky Henderson have yet to make a decision on the gelding's Champion Hurdle participation, several big Flat targets are being discussed at the moment. The two-mile G1 Melbourne Cup is under consideration. Buckley told Nick Luck on Racing TV's Luck On Sunday programme, "I did say to Nicky 'can we agree on one thing, whatever we decide about Cheltenham, let's...

Former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil) attracted a bumper crowd for his Flat debut at Friday evening's Southwell fixture and sent supporters home contented after witnessing the nine-year-old romp to an impressive 9 1/2-length tally in the 12-furlong SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes. Bounding along within range of the pace through halfway, the 6-4 favourite was accompanied by raucous cheers when surging forward on the bridle in the home straight and lengthened clear in imperious fashion to easily overpower Square Necker (Zarak) by daylight. "He felt like...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Caroline Street (No Nay Never--Harvestfortheworld {Ire}, by So You Think {NZ}) was highly tried after notching a July 14 debut score at Leopardstown, with the highlight of three subsequent pattern-race starts being a second to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in September's G2 Golden Fleece S. back at the Foxrock venue. Lining up for Saturday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. coming back off a sixth in the Curragh's Sept. 22 G3 Weld Park S., she found plenty in the straight to lead...

CHELTENHAM, UK--One champion crowned as another exits. But there was no quiet shuffling off, stage left, for Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}), who was roared home, roared in, and roared out of the Cheltenham winner's circle that provides no better setting for equine coronations.  Just forty minutes earlier the new king of the hurdling division, Constitution Hill (GB), had delivered exactly the performance expected of him but one which can never be guaranteed in the hurly-burly of championship races at the Festival. Plenty of commentators are already suggesting that the son...

Michael Buckley has been named the new chief operating officer of Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC, the simulcast wagering facility and prospective applicant for a Massachusetts sports wagering license which formerly operated as Suffolk Downs racetrack. Buckley is a principal at Belmont Capital LLC, one of Suffolk Racecourse's three owners. "On behalf of the SSR ownership, we are pleased to have Mike take on this new role as we work toward implementing sports betting along with our simulcast wagering business," said Richard Fields, one of Sterling Suffolk's principal owners. "I'm excited...

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we have the affable Michael Buckley of Harefield Cottage Stud. GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? MB: Far Above (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) and Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) all seem quite appealing first-season stallion prospects. If I had to choose one, then maybe it would be Sergei Prokofiev at £6,500. A $1.1-million yearling...