Trainer Nicky Henderson revealed last week the five-time champion was in line to ride the former champion hurdler and the pair became acquainted for the first time.

He is due to run over a mile and a half at Southwell on February 20, having fallen in three of his last four outings over hurdles.

“Oisin came in and rode him this morning,” Henderson told the Press Association.

“He had another bit of stalls practice and then he had a gallop and Oisin was happy.

“Obviously there are lots of other jockeys out there that I like a lot and I would have been happy with any number of them, but I’m very happy to have Oisin.”

Whether Constitution Hill stays on the level or goes to Cheltenham for another crack at the Champion Hurdle remains to be seen, and Henderson added: “We’re only concentrating on this race at Southwell at the moment, that’s all we’re talking about.”