Constitution Hill was forced to accept a clear fourth‑place finish behind Pride Of Arras in his much‑anticipated third flat start during the William Hill September Stakes at Kempton Park. The Nicky Henderson‑trained star, who dazzled during his hurdling career and has remained a marquee name since turning to the flat, found the Group Three contest a considerable step up from his previous wins at Southwell and his earlier Kempton triumphs in February and March. When the odds‑on favourite Gethin seized the early lead over the mile‑and‑a‑half distance, Billy Loughnane and Constitution Hill, starting at 9‑2, were positioned just behind, still showing a flicker of menace as they turned for home.
Approaching the final two‑furlong point, Constitution Hill produced a brief, encouraging burst, but it quickly became evident that he would not be able to join the leading battle. Instead, the Ralph Beckett‑trained Pride Of Arras, priced at 11‑2, surged ahead and held off a late rally from Gethin, winning by a length.
The defeat was especially disappointing for Henderson, who had been entertaining the possibility of a Melbourne Cup campaign for Constitution Hill this autumn. After the race, Henderson explained, "The Melbourne Cup is now out of the picture, unfortunately.
Today was always meant to give us a clear direction for his next steps, and now we have another question to answer. I don’t think we’ll target races under a mile and a half; the sweet spot for him appears to be between 12 and 14 furlongs. He seemed to be coming around nicely, but a slight setback a furlong out may have taken a bit of the sting out of his effort. It will sharpen him up." He added that Constitution Hill will now be eligible for handicap races, which could open doors to lucrative opportunities across England, Ireland, or elsewhere.
"From two novice stakes of very different quality, today was a huge leap. We’ll now wait to see how his rating adjusts. We’ll find a suitable race for him, and he’s far from finished, I can assure you," Henderson said.
While Australian ambitions may have been dampened for Constitution Hill, the connections of Pride Of Arras have their eyes set on a trip to Canada. The winner, a proven performer in last year’s Dante and Great Voltigeur, displayed his class on the synthetic surface at Sunbury. Beckett praised his colt, saying, "He’s a very good horse, having shown his talent in the Dante and the Voltigeur last season. He did suffer a serious foot issue just before the John Porter, which meant he wasn’t fully ready when he faced Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud, but I still needed to give him a run." Beckett recounted the challenges the horse faced: "He struggled after finishing second to Item in the York Stakes, and his foot was still a concern.
Yet he looked fantastic before the International, looking like a million dollars. It was a huge disappointment that we couldn’t run him at York because they loaded him before the other horses had cleared the gates, and I think watching the other horses walk past unsettled him." Regarding the Kempton surface, Beckett noted, "I think the ground was a little deeper than he prefers, so a slight upgrade might have helped.
I believe he will really enjoy the Canadian International in Toronto when we take him there." Beckett also reflected on the broader impact of Constitution Hill’s appearance at Kempton. "It’s wonderful to see the crowds turning out; we are in the entertainment business, after all. But as a trainer, you always worry about your own horse. I’m pleased the spectators were there, and it was a good race.
The first two finishers were high‑quality horses, and Constitution Hill was not disgraced." In summary, the September Stakes highlighted the gulf between Constitution Hill’s current flat form and the level required for Group Three success. Henderson will now reassess his campaign, likely targeting longer distance handicaps where the horse can rebuild confidence and improve his official rating.
Meanwhile, Pride Of Arras’s connections are gearing up for a potential Canadian adventure, hoping the colt’s proven ability on synthetic surfaces will translate into success on the international stage. The race also underscored the importance of surface conditions and foot health in shaping a horse’s performance, factors both trainers will consider as they plot the next steps for their respective stars.