September Stakes emerges as alternative option for Constitution Hill
TRACK SPECIALIST: Trainer Nicky Henderson with Constitution Hill after his Flat success at Kempton last March. Picture: Warren Little/Getty
Constitution Hill may return to the scene of some of his finest hours if the current dry spell curtails an intended outing at Windsor later this month.
Nicky Henderson’s former Champion Hurdle hero was slated to make his eagerly-awaited third appearance on the Flat in the Listed Weatherbys August Stakes on August 29.
However, with heatwaves coming and going and with little break in the weather forecast, Kempton’s Group Three William Hill September Stakes the following weekend could come to the rescue.
Henderson said: “The Windsor date has to be a considerable worry and it is where we would prefer to be, but the good thing is the following weekend we have the September Stakes at Kempton and we might just have to wait a week and go there.
“It’s a good scenario and it’s nice to have a backup plan the following week. It doesn’t effect his preparations and if he’s ready for one, he’s ready for the other, an extra week isn’t going to change things and he won’t go over the top I can assure you!
“Windsor is watered so it doesn’t need as much rain as the National Hunt tracks do and if we did get two-or-three days heavy rain then it could still be possible Windsor will be safe. But it’s good to have Kempton there and we’ll have to wait and see.”
Constitution Hill has won a record three Christmas Hurdles at Kempton, while the Sunbury venue was also the scene of his second outing on the level earlier in the year when he followed up his jaw-dropping Southwell bow with the assistance of Ryan Moore under the floodlights.
It would be a first move into Group company for Constitution Hill and a race which has been won by some proven Group 1 performers down the years, including Enable in 2018 and 2020.
A September Stakes outing would also effectively rule out a run in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on September 13, although a third Flat appearance would open up a wide range of alternatives for Henderson, who earlier in the summer refused to completely rule out a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.
Henderson continued: “Going to Kempton would stop us going to Ireland as it would all come on top of him a little bit but we’ve lots of alternatives out of that.
“After his next run he’ll be eligible to run in handicaps as well so there will be lots of options.
“Everyone is really happy with him and his work has been good and we’re on course touch wood.”
