With Constitution Hill making it two out of two on the Flat, Joel Pattison looks at what could be next for the Seven Barrows star.
The ever-popular Lambourn Open Day is on Good Friday and Constitution Hill, who recently gathered a second success on the Flat, will be the star of the show at Nicky Henderson’s yard.
One question the veteran handler is sure to be asked more than enough is what’s next in store for the former Champion Hurdler, now that he has won twice on the Flat (but both times on the all-weather).
Well, here are some of the viable options.
John Porter Stakes
Constitution Hill could make his first turf start on the flat in the Group 3 John Porter Stakes at Newbury on Saturday 18th April.
William Haggas has also suggested it could be the starting point for Hamish, who won the race in 2024. Also a nine-year-old, he’d likely prove Constitution Hill’s first significant rival in this sphere.
As long as he’s fit and well, this is probably his next destination.
Sagaro Stakes
A step up to two miles for the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Royal Ascot has been suggested by some as a race that could suit the gelding.
However, a summer campaign looks incredibly unlikely given how firm the ground is likely to be, while Henderson has indicated that extending his trip is not part of the plan.
“We think this is as far as he needs to go,” he said. “We wouldn’t be rushing to go two miles, put it like that. If you thought that something like the Sagaro might’ve been on the agenda, I’d say probably not.”
So that rules that out.
Ebor
After winning at Kempton, bookmakers reacted by cutting Constitution Hill into favourite for the Ebor at York in August.
The richest handicap in Britain, worth £1m, is a couple of furlongs further than what Henderson has indicated he’d keep the horse to, but it wouldn’t be entirely out of the question.
How he’s handicapped and ground conditions in late August could play a huge factor. Winning a John Porter isn’t going to help his mark.
Melbourne Cup
Owner Michael Buckley had previously mentioned the Melbourne Cup on Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme, suggesting it would be the race he’d like to aim Constitution Hill at after his first win at Southwell.
Henderson, though, has since put a solid line through those hopes, stating that “not in a million years” would the Champion Hurdle winner be heading down under.
Irish St Leger
Another market that appeared after his Kempton win had Constitution Hill at 8-1 to win a Group 1 this season, and his best chance of that is probably in the Irish St Leger.
Again, it’s 1m6f, but given the time of year at which it’s run, at the Curragh in September, it’s prone to having a bit of cut in the ground.
This looks like it could be the main target for the season, with Henderson and Buckley potentially working back from there.
A John Porter, then perhaps something like the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup rather than the Ebor, could be his route to the Irish St Leger.
What a campaign it would be if he could achieve that.
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