Rossa Ryan to partner Constitution Hill in Milan

Rossa Ryan has been called up to partner Constitution Hill for his Italian mission on Sunday in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club.

Trainer Nicky Henderson had intimated on Sunday that Oisin Murphy would be reunited with the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner having ridden him to his first win on the Flat at Southwell in February, but there has been a change of plan.

With plenty of rain due in Italy it looks as if Constitution Hill’s back-up option at Newbury in Saturday’s St Simon Stakes will be just that, with everything pointing towards an outing at San Siro.

“It’s a bit of a mad one,” Ryan told Sky Sports Racing at Yarmouth on Tuesday.

“I was in Milan last weekend and Nicky rang me to see what the ground was like yesterday morning, then he rang me back yesterday evening to see if I could ride him, so it’s a great opportunity.

“I literally got the phone call last night so I’ve never ridden him. He’s popular for sure. San Siro is just like this (Yarmouth) – it’s just the other way around – and I was reading between Wednesday and Thursday they are due 52mm of rain, so it will be proper soft ground.

“It looks a good race on paper and he’ll have a chance. I was speaking to Oisin and he said the softer the ground the better, so we’ll see.”