What next for Constitution Hill? Barry Geraghty insists there is more to come - but others call for retirement

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Barry Geraghty believes there is still plenty of fun to be had with Constitution Hill despite his defeat in the September Stakes at Kempton.

Geraghty, who sourced Constitution Hill as a foal, believes the nine-year-old will be suited best by testing conditions on turf rather than the all-weather.

Billy Loughnane’s mount failed to quicken in the final two furlongs, having travelled promisingly into the race, and finished five and three-quarter lengths behind Pride Of Arras in fourth.

Geraghty, an ambassador for the race sponsors William Hill, said: “It was always going to be a big ask for Constitution Hill, but you have to test the water to see where you stand with him.

“If you analyse the race, he broke slowly and didn’t get an ideal position, having wanted to track the favourite. However, he travelled well into the straight and looked like he was going to play a big part, but then just couldn’t quicken with them.

Constitution Hill after finishing fourth in the September StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

“Although I probably think the trip is ideal for him, I’d imagine testing conditions would play more to his strengths. I’m not exactly sure where they would go next, but as Nicky [Henderson] has said, the Melbourne Cup should be out of the equation now. I think, to be at his best, he’d need slower ground.

“I still think there’s plenty of fun to be had with him and he will improve from that run. I thought he ran a good race for a long way.”

ITV Racing pundits Hayley Turner and Adele Mulrennan shared reservations over how much more Constitution Hill can achieve on the Flat.

Turner said: “I wouldn't be too fussed about running him again. He has done well. Do we want to keep running him in handicaps? Does he deserve turning out for what he has done? I'm sure that's not what they are going to do, but he has served so well and is very popular, and it would be good to see him bow out nicely." 

Mulrennan added: "He just looked like he lacked a little bit of speed against those horses so I suppose they will look to step him up in trip and see how he gets on.

"I think to myself, if he doesn't win next time out in a handicap, do I really want to see him run again and again, watching him get beaten?"

What do two of our experts think?

'An excellent effort'

By Maddy Playle, reporter

You can't seem to move for negativity surrounding Constitution Hill, but I thought his September Stakes fourth was an excellent effort. 

He travelled really well and looked, both in the paddock beforehand and during the race, as though he would improve from a fitness perspective. He appeared to take a blow when the superior horses quickened past him, and it has since emerged that he bled from the nose as well. 

The run represented a considerable improvement on ratings, and a sharper effort can be expected next time with that exercise under his belt and at a more galloping track, which would play more to his strengths.

I would keep him to a similar distance and there are plenty of suitable races around for him on turf now. Al Aasy has just won a Group 2 at the same age and Constitution Hill has just beaten Dubai Future, who is one year his senior and was just three-quarters of a length away from winning a Group 1 last time. 

Is anyone calling for those horses to be retired?

'A return to hurdling is worth thinking about'

By James Hill, tipster

That was fine from Constitution Hill. It was his first start since March and he looked to need it. If some people were disappointed, I don’t know what they were expecting – he was comfortably the lowest-rated runner in the field. 

I thought he showed enough to have another crack at Pattern level and next month’s St Simon Stakes at Newbury - won last year by nine-year-old Hamish - would be a good target. If that didn’t work out, a return to hurdling is worth thinking about. There’s also the option of retirement - the horse doesn’t owe us anything - but a premature end to his career would be a bit of a letdown given he looked as good as ever at Southwell in the winter.

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