Constitution Hill was forced to accept a clear fourth‑place finish behind Pride Of Arras in his much‑anticipated third flat start at Kempton Park, contesting the William Hill September Stakes over a mile and a half. The Nicky Henderson‑trained star, who dazzled in his hurdling career and has been a major attraction since his switch to the flat, found the Group Three level a considerable step up from his earlier wins at Southwell and his previous Kempton outings in February and March. When the race began, odds‑on favourite Gethin took the lead and set a solid pace. Billy Loughnane and Constitution Hill, starting at 9‑2, were positioned close behind in fourth place, still travelling with a measure of threat as the field turned for home.
Approaching the final two‑furlong marker, Constitution Hill produced a brief flash of promise, but it quickly became apparent that he would not be able to join the leaders. Instead, the Ralph Beckett‑trained Pride Of Arras, at 11‑2, surged to the front and held off a late rally from Gethin, winning by a length. The result left Henderson to reassess his plans for the future. Constitution Hill had arrived at Kempton with the Melbourne Cup being a tantalising autumn target, but after today’s performance the Australian campaign appears to be off the table.
"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, and 12, 13 or 14 furlongs seems to be the range where we go with him.
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 added that Constitution Hill will now be eligible for handicap races, opening the possibility of targeting lucrative contests in England, Ireland or elsewhere. "It will be interesting to see what the reaction on Tuesday is," he noted, suggesting that a well‑chosen handicap could restore his confidence and showcase his ability over a distance that suits his stamina.
In contrast, the winner’s connections are already looking beyond the UK. Pride Of Arras, a Dante and Great Voltigeur victor last season, impressed on the Sunbury synthetic surface and now has a potential trip to Canada on the horizon.
Beckett explained, "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. 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 commented on the atmosphere at Kempton, noting the importance of crowd support while acknowledging the primary focus on the horses. "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 itself offered a snapshot of the evolving flat program at Kempton, with Sky Sports Racing providing live coverage of the jumps action from Bangor‑on‑Dee later in the day, and a slate of other features including Francis‑Henri Graffard’s stable stars, a Prix Vermeille win by Friendly Soul, and Daryz’s dominant performance in the Prix Foy as a rehearsal for the Arc.
The broader racing round‑up highlighted Saddadd’s Group One breakthrough, underscoring the depth of talent across disciplines. Looking ahead, Henderson’s next steps will likely involve targeting a suitable handicap where Constitution Hill can regain his winning form. The trainer believes the horse still possesses the class and stamina that made him a superstar over hurdles, and he remains confident that the colt’s career is far from over. "We’ll find a nice race for him somewhere and he’s by no means finished yet, I can promise you that," Henderson affirmed.
For Pride Of Arras, the Canadian International presents an exciting challenge. The race, run over 12 furlongs on a firm turf at Woodbine, would suit a horse of his proven middle‑distance ability and could cement his status as an international contender. Beckett’s optimism about the Canadian surface suggests that the team is already planning logistics, travel, and training adjustments to ensure the horse arrives in peak condition. In summary, the September Stakes at Kempton delivered a clear illustration of the fine margins at the Group Three level.
Constitution Hill’s fourth place, while disappointing to his connections, provides valuable data on his optimal distance and potential future pathways. Pride Of Arras’s victory, meanwhile, reinforces his versatility and opens the door to a transatlantic campaign that could see him compete against some of the world’s best on Canadian soil. Both horses now have distinct narratives to follow, and racing fans can look forward to seeing how these storylines develop over the coming months.