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Constitution Hill story far from over despite defeat in Italy

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sun 25 Oct 2026

Nicky Henderson will scour the French programme book in a bid to identify further opportunities for Constitution Hill during the autumn following his creditable fifth-place finish in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club in Milan.

This time last year the nine-year-old – who at one time looked unbeatable over hurdles – was being prepared for what would turn out to be his final jumping start in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, at which stage a future trip to Italy would have been inconceivable.

But a third fall in four starts ultimately led to a change of career for the eight-time Grade One winner and following a couple of routine all-weather wins and a not-disgraced fourth in the September Stakes, he travelled across Europe for an intriguing Group Two assignment at San Siro.

Travelling enthusiastically for much of the mile-and-a-half contest in the hands of Rossa Ryan, he kept on admirably in the straight to finish upsides the William Haggas-trained multiple Group One winner Dubai Honour, albeit six lengths behind the German-trained Stingray.

“He’s run a very good race,” Henderson told the Press Association.

“Unfortunately what went heavy ground on Wednesday didn’t stay heavy very long, it was genuinely just good ground, but no excuses. He’s finished upsides William Haggas’ horse and just behind Andrew Balding’s (Venetian Prince). They were third, fourth and fifth the raiders, with not much between them.

“There are no complaints at all, but what really got us excited was when they were calling the ground heavy, as we know he goes in it and maybe some of the others can’t. That’s where our real optimism came from and unfortunately as soon as we stepped foot on the course it wasn’t anything like that, but no excuses.”

There is no suggestion from the Seven Barrows handler the Constitution Hill story is over just yet, with a drop back to a mile and a quarter even a possibility if a suitable race can be found on suitable ground.

Henderson added: “Like Ryan (Moore) and Oisin (Murphy) said earlier in the year, a mile and a half is plenty (far enough) and we don’t want to go any further.

“Rossa was saying he’s not short of any pace and you could come back (in trip). It is hard as you have a horse by Blue Bresil trying to keep speed with horses by Dubawi and that sort of thing, it’s pretty amazing really when you think about it – it’s quite extraordinary.

“France goes on a bit longer, doesn’t it? So we’ll have a look and see if there isn’t anything in France with some proper Paris autumn ground.

“I’ve just been down to the stables and he’s 100 per cent, they’re now on their way home and we definitely have every intention of running again.

“We’ve just got to see what there is and where it is, but Paris can get nice and wet in the autumn and they might still have some races over there, I hope.”

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