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 in his hurdling career under the guidance of Nicky Henderson, has remained one of the sport’s most compelling attractions since his switch to the flat. Yet this Group Three test proved a substantial leap from the victories he had collected at Southwell and earlier at Kempton in February and March.
From the outset, the odds‑on favourite Gethin seized the lead in the mile‑and‑a‑half contest, dictating a brisk tempo. Close on his heels, Billy Loughnane and Constitution Hill (starting at 9‑2) were positioned just off the pace, still travelling with a palpable amount of menace as the field turned for home. When the two‑furlong marker was reached, Constitution Hill displayed a brief flash of hope, but it quickly became evident that he would not be able to mount a serious challenge.
Instead, it was the Ralph Beckett‑trained Pride Of Arras (11‑2) who surged forward, repelling Gethin’s late rally to win by a length. The defeat carries particular significance for Henderson’s camp because the colt arrived at Kempton with a potential Melbourne Cup campaign on the horizon for the autumn.
After the race, Henderson acknowledged that the Australian target had effectively slipped away and that today’s performance would dictate the next steps. "Melbourne is gone now, sadly," he 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." He went on to outline a revised distance plan for the horse, ruling out trips under a mile and a half and suggesting a range of twelve to fourteen furlongs as his optimum. "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," Henderson explained. The trainer also hinted that Constitution Hill will now be eligible for handicap races, opening the door to lucrative opportunities across England, Ireland, or elsewhere. "It will be interesting to see what the reaction on Tuesday is.
It could allow him into some very lucrative handicaps," he added. Reflecting on the step up in class, Henderson noted, "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." While the Australian dream may have been postponed, the connections of the winner, Pride Of Arras, are already looking across the Atlantic. The horse, who previously captured the Dante and Great Voltigeur Stakes, impressed on the synthetic surface at Sunbury and now has his sights set on the Canadian International.
Beckett praised his runner, saying, "He's a good horse and was good in the Dante and Voltigeur last year and a talented individual. He had a really bad foot problem that came to light just before the John Porter and he wasn't really ready when he ran against Calandagan in the Grand Prix de Saint‑Cloud, but I had to run him somewhere." He continued, describing the challenges the colt faced with his foot issue and the disappointment of missing the York Stakes. "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." Regarding the Kempton surface, Beckett felt the ground may have been a touch deeper than Pride Of Arras preferred, but he remained optimistic about the upcoming trip to Canada. "I think there is a good chance he will really enjoy Toronto when we take him to the Canadian International," he said. On the broader impact of Constitution Hill’s performance, Beckett added, "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 day's racing action also featured a host of other storylines, including Daryz’s sparkling rehearsal for the Arc, live jumps action from Bangor‑on‑Dee on Sky Sports Racing, and a French showcase with Francis‑Henri Graffard discussing his stable stars. Friendly Soul secured a dominant win in the Prix Vermeille, while Daryz warmed up for the Arc with a commanding performance in the Prix Foy. In the UK, Saddadd celebrated a Group One breakthrough, rounding out a busy and diverse racing programme.
Overall, the Kempton meeting highlighted both the promise and the challenges inherent in managing a horse of Constitution Hill’s calibre. While the flat debut did not go as hoped, the experience offers valuable insight into distance suitability, surface preferences, and future race planning. Henderson and his team will now regroup, assess the colt’s progress, and chart a path that could still see him compete at the highest levels, whether in top‑class handicaps or a return to the Group ranks later in the season.