Constitution Hill was forced to accept a clear fourth‑place finish behind Pride Of Arras in his much‑anticipated third flat start at the William Hill September Stakes, held at Kempton Park. The young star, who dazzled during his hurdling career under the guidance of Nicky Henderson, has been one of the sport’s most compelling attractions since making the switch to the flat. Yet this Group Three contest represented a significant step up from the victories he recorded at Southwell and earlier at Kempton in February and March. When the race began, the odds‑on favourite Gethin quickly took the lead over the mile‑and‑a‑half distance.
Close on his heels were Billy Loughnane and Constitution Hill, who started at 9‑2 and settled into a tight fourth position, still showing a flicker of menace as the field turned for home. Approaching the final two‑furlong marker, Constitution Hill displayed a brief surge of hope, but it quickly became apparent that he would not be able to challenge for the lead.
Instead, the Ralph Beckett‑trained Pride Of Arras, starting at 11‑2, surged forward and held off a late rally from Gethin, winning by a length. The result left Henderson contemplating the future of his talented colt. Constitution Hill had arrived at Kempton with the Melbourne Cup still a tantalising autumn target, but the defeat forced the trainer back to the drawing board.
"Melbourne is gone now, sadly," Henderson said. "Today was always going to tell us what we were going to do next, and I suppose he's posing us another question now. I don’t think we want to go under a mile and a half, that is for sure – 12, 13 or 14 furlongs seems to be the range where we go with him.
I do think he is going to come on for the run, what with the way he got there as if it was going to happen, but from a furlong out I think he took a bit of a blow. It will sharpen him up." He added that Constitution Hill will now be eligible for handicap races, opening the door to potentially lucrative contests in England, Ireland, or elsewhere. "From two novice stakes of very differing strength and depth it was a big step today and we’ll now just wait to see what it does for his mark. We’ll find a nice race for him somewhere and he’s by no means finished yet, I can promise you that," Henderson affirmed.
While Australian ambitions for Constitution Hill may have been dampened, the connections of Pride Of Arras are already looking across the Atlantic. The winner, a proven performer in last year’s Dante and Great Voltigeur, is now being considered for a trip to Canada, where his class could shine on the synthetic surface at Sunbury. Beckett, the trainer, praised his charge: "He’s a good horse and was good in the Dante and Voltigeur last year – a talented individual. He had a really bad foot problem that came to light just before the John Porter and wasn’t really ready when he ran against Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud, but I had to run him somewhere.
I then thought he lugged out when second (to Item) in the York Stakes and was still thinking about his foot. I thought he looked a million dollars before the International and hadn’t looked better.
It was a great disappointment to all of us we couldn’t run at York. They loaded him at York before all the other horses had gone behind and I’d say he was looking at the horses walking towards him and that’s what set him off. I thought today he would probably find the surface a touch deeper than he would like so you could probably upgrade it a little bit.
I think there is a good chance he will really enjoy Toronto when we take him to the Canadian International." Beckett also reflected on the atmosphere at Kempton, noting the importance of the crowd: "It’s great that the crowds have come out and we’re in the entertainment business, but inevitably you have to worry about your own horse. I’m delighted there is a crowd and it was a good race.
The first two are good horses and Constitution Hill wasn’t disgraced." The race day also featured other notable performances. Friendly Soul secured a decisive victory in the Prix Vermeille, while Daryz delivered a dominant display in the Prix Foy as a warm‑up for the Arc. In the United Kingdom, Erdenali shone at the top level to claim the Prix du Moulin, and at Haydock, Almeraq stormed to a brilliant Sprint Cup win for trainer David O'Meara. Sky Sports Racing’s broadcast highlighted Daryz, Gstaad and Opera Ballo as part of a stellar Arc Trials day from ParisLongchamp.
Looking ahead, Constitution Hill’s connections will assess his handicap rating and identify suitable targets that suit his optimal distance range of 12‑14 furlongs. The colt’s pedigree, athleticism, and the experience gained from this Group Three test suggest he remains a high‑profile prospect for future middle‑distance contests, whether in Britain’s prestigious handicaps or potentially in international festivals. Meanwhile, Pride Of Arras’s team will finalize plans for the Canadian International, hoping the horse’s proven stamina and adaptability will translate into success on Canadian soil.