Constitution Hill suffers comprehensive first defeat of Flat career as Pride Of Arras holds off Gethin at Kempton

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If many of us have been living in a Constitution Hill daydream since he so fabulously reinvented himself as a Flat horse on a cold, dark February night then the same cannot be said of those closest to Pride Of Arras.

Speaking before the September Stakes, Pride Of Arras’s jockey, Rossa Ryan, said there had been plenty of “hype” around Constitution Hill but his form was a long way short of the talk. “We’ll find out today,” the Arc-winning jockey added.

The majority of the 2,000-plus crowd at Kempton were willing Constitution Hill to victory – as was made clear by the almighty surge in noise when Billy Loughnane moved briefly into contention on the brilliant 2023 Champion Hurdle winner.

But it was a horse whose connections had been deeply disappointed at him being withdrawn at the start of the Juddmonte International, and who may soon tackle one of Canada’s biggest Grade 1s, who stamped his authority on the race, defeating favourite Gethin by a length.

“I thought Constitution Hill had been given a high enough mark by the handicapper based on what I’d seen him do,” Ryan said. “I thought if my horse was back to his best he would be bang there. Last year he only really came to himself in the autumn, so hopefully this is his time.”

Handicaps on this side of the world, rather than the Melbourne Cup, appear to be the future for Constitution Hill, who was reported in the BHA stewards' report to have bled.

Billy Loughnane with Michael Buckley and Nicky Henderson before the September StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Henderson said: "I do think he's going to come on for that. He got there as if it was going to happen and he just couldn't quite. He'll sharpen up. He's going to be eligible for a handicap mark and it'll be interesting to see the reaction to that. It'll allow him into some lucrative handicaps.

"There's just a trickle, a trace, of blood in one nostril. We've had him scoped by one of our vets, as we always do, and everything's okay. It's insignificant and perfectly normal to find in a horse competing on a hot day like this. The way it's worded sends everyone into a panic because, evidently, you cannot quantify on a report the amount of blood present. I'm happy, my vets and the BHA's vet are all happy too. He's completely, categorically fine."

Constitution Hill's first-time rider Billy Loughnane was also satisfied with the performance. He said: "He ran a nice race. He broke clean from the gate and found a lovely rhythm outside the speed. He relaxed really well and drafted into the race beautifully. I felt like I was going to go really close and I think he'll take a big step forward for the run. Stepping up in distance a little bit on the Flat might just suit him. He's got a very good rhythm and can maintain a good tempo for a long way."

For Ralph Beckett, who trains the winner for owner-breeders David and Vimy Aykroyd, the victory was one of great satisfaction. Not because he ended the Constitution Hill hype train, but because of how Pride Of Arras had been denied his chance at York last time having been withdrawn after acting up in the stalls.

“At York, they loaded him before the other horses were even behind the stalls,” Beckett said. “So he saw the other horses coming around and that’s what set him off – it was one of those things. While he wouldn’t have won the race he’d have picked up a good cheque – more than he won today, anyway.

“It’s good to get his head in front and Rossa said the surface was riding deep, so wasn’t really in his favour, which marks up his effort further.”

As it happened: Pride Of Arras holds off Gethin with Constitution Hill well beaten

He added: “It’s always good to beat a good horse like Gethin. I’ve not really been aware or thought about what’s been going on with Constitution Hill, apart from when I’ve picked up the paper.”

The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has often been targeted by connections after victory in the September Stakes. However, with no geldings permitted until next year, Pride Of Arras will be travelling further afield for his next start.

Pride Of Arras is heading to Canada nextCredit: Edward Whitaker

“We’re going to look at the Canadian International as I think that’ll be a really good fit for him,” Beckett said.

If the connections of Constitution Hill were left rethinking plans after defeat at Kempton, connections of Gethin were also left with some thinking to do.

Sent-off 4-6 favourite to claim another big race for Wathnan Racing, Gethin controlled the race from the front but hung away his chances in the closing quarter of a mile to finish second.

Jockey Callum Rodriguez said: “It was a good run. He relaxed well in front, we had good control of the race and I thought he saw the trip out well too.

“It’s frustrating what happened in the straight. He hung towards the outside rail and that probably cost him winning.

Constitution Hill (Billy Loughnane) in the early stages of the September StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Analysis: He does not look to have the change of gear you need at this level

By Scott Burton

Constitution Hill's first defeat on the Flat – against a pair of rivals who had already proved themselves well capable of thriving at Group 3 level and above – should not come as a surprise, although the manner of his defeat might act as a sobering reminder that, just as is the case over hurdles, the gap between the very good and the merely talented can quickly become a wide one.

His supporters will point to the fact the nine-year-old jumped on terms from the gates and travelled comfortably through the first three-quarters of the race, and perhaps even take extra comfort that he still appeared to be going well when Benoit de la Sayette got lower in the saddle to urge Warrant Holder forward turning into Kempton's short straight.

But look at the distances involved – not just at the line, but a furlong out – after Warrant Holder had stayed on past Constitution Hill, while Pride Of Arras and the errant Gethin took the real race out of his reach in a matter of strides. He might also have faced Tornado Alert and Almeric but for their late absences, as well as a Group 1 winner in Bay City Roller, had that top-class performer's connections not opted for a different route to the Arc.

Undoubtedly Constitution Hill needed the run, but over middle distances, even with a race in his legs, he does not look to have the change of gear you would need at this level.

That might be a different story on really deep autumn ground, although being asked that question when he was so carefully kept away from those conditions during his hurdling career seems unlikely.

Receiving 3lb, he finished upsides fellow veteran Dubai Future, whose best performances in the last two seasons have all come over two miles, and from that point of view Constitution Hill ran perfectly respectably with a view to stepping up in trip.

Whether he has a stakes race in him even at staying trips seems open to question and, whether it is as a classy handicapper or perhaps trying to nick a sub-standard Listed or Group race, his ceiling on the Flat looks to have been established.

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