Constitution Hill will form an exciting new partnership when he resumes his Flat campaign on Saturday after Billy Loughnane was booked for the mount. The winner of the 2023 Champion Hurdle made his Flat debut in February having switched codes after a sequence of three falls in four races. He recorded a stunning win at Southwell, scoring by seven lengths before a record crowd for the Nottinghamshire track. Then he won another novice stakes at Kempton in March and is ready to resume his new career following a short break.
Windsor race shelved, Kempton targeted
The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old was engaged in last Saturday's Listed August Stakes at Windsor only for the race to be shelved because of uncertainty about the suitability of the ground. Instead his trainer set his sights on a return to Kempton to tackle the Group 3 William Hill September Stakes, a long-time trial for British runners in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won in the past by the likes of Enable. Last year Giavellotto defeated Kalpana at Kempton.
Strong opposition and betting odds
There are Arc-bound contenders among the 14 horses engaged in this year's race, including Group 1 winners Bay City Roller and Tornado Alert, plus the talented Gethin, also heading to ParisLongchamp next month. Without his first choice jockeys, Henderson has handed the mount to Billy Loughnane for what looks set to be a very tough assignment. Loughnane has enjoyed a golden 2026, winning his first Classic on Bow Echo in the 2,000 Guineas, adding victories in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He is also leading the jockeys' championship, holding a 14 winner lead over defending champion Murphy.
The strength of the possible opposition is underlined by the early betting on the race, for which Constitution Hill is a 12-1 chance with the sponsor. William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps, said: "It's excellent to see Constitution Hill entered for Saturday's Group Three William Hill September Stakes, but we think he'll struggle to lay a glove on his out-and-out Flat opposition.
We make the Henderson star a 12-1 shot to land Saturday's Kempton contest, but we're fully expecting his legion of fans to back him regardless. It would be no surprise to see that double-figure price disappear in the coming days and for us to be facing a big liability come raceday. Gethin tops the betting at 2-1, followed by Pride Of Arras at 3-1 and Bay City Roller at 9-2. These horses have got proper Flat form to their name, and we think they're probably in a different league to the former Champion Hurdler in this sphere."
