‘We’re a long way from finished’ – Henderson adamant big days still await for Constitution Hill

“We’re a long way from finished, I can promise you that”. Those were the words of Nicky Henderson after a race designed to signpost the future may have closed one door but opened many others for a horse in Constitution Hill who never fails to capture the imagination.

With memories of two magical evenings on the Flat earlier this year threatening to be consigned to the memory bank and Plan A of Windsor last weekend perhaps hastily abandoned (in hindsight), it was back to Kempton for the William Hill September Stakes – it’s always Kempton with this great horse.

Fittingly on Wild West Day it was the weighing room’s sharpest shooter Billy ‘The Kid’ Loughnane playing the role of deputy in the saddle and if this was not quite Constitution Hill’s duel at the OK Corral, his first step in to Group company bore hallmarks of an equine Alamo, with racing’s hurdling great staring down a talented cast of rivals at his beloved Kempton fortress.

Saeed bin Suroor appropriately sported a cowboy hat for the occasion as he made his way to the pre-parade to saddle Dubai Future, but it was clear those flocking to Kempton only had eyes for one sheriff, as cheers for racing’s biggest draw card rang out.

Just for a brief second it appeared Constitution Hill was primed to gun down his rivals and add another footnote to his decorated list of heroics. Some may have been underwhelmed by a fourth-placed finish on paper, but it was a performance that gives Henderson belief there are more chapters to be written in one of racing’s most thrilling tales.

Henderson said: “I appreciate there was such a build-up to this (that) the result might feel deflating, but we have to live with where we are. We’re a long way from finished, I can promise you that.

“Billy said he travelled great and was slightly of the opinion a bit further might help him as he travels so well and gets into a lovely rhythm. I thought he was pretty ready, but I can accept a race will sharpen him up a little bit and a race of that quality probably found him out.

“Billy felt going to the furlong pole he was about to get there and then suddenly he emptied. He loomed up and looked capable of getting there just couldn’t finish it off.”

There was a country and western soundtrack to the afternoon booming out around Sunbury, but it was Australia rather than America’s deep south that was in the minds of connections prior to Constitution Hill’s eagerly-awaited third Flat appearance.

There may have been groans in the Qantas Airways offices as dreams of last-minute bookings to Melbourne quickly evaporated, but Henderson will now relish returning to the programme plot to unearth his next cunning plan.

“We’ll have to see what happens to his mark on Tuesday and then we can map a plan,” continued Henderson.

“Melbourne was always the wacky one and we know that isn’t going to happen now, but there are a lot of these sorts of races. We were aiming at a Listed race last week which was probably a tad easier than this, but if he can stay around the 100 mark then you never know.

“Those Baden-Baden races are rather good fun aren’t they! You never know! But if the handicapper wants him to drop him below 100 and he can get into those 0-105 handicaps then happy days.”

If anyone was going to conjure up the required magic aboard Constitution Hill it was Loughnane and while the decibels began to rise as the 20-year-old began to nudge along his mount entering the final half-mile, there was to be no repeat of his daring darts aboard Bow Echo which have lit up 2026.

Loughnane said: “He ran a nice race and found a beautiful rhythm outside of the speed which I was comfortable with and he relaxed well. He drafted into the race nicely and I felt he was going to go really close, but I do think he will take a big step forward for that run.

“He hasn’t run for a while so is entitled to come on for it and I don’t know if going up in distance on the Flat might just suit him. He’s got a very strong rhythm and can maintain a strong tempo for a long way so going up in distance might see him to good effect.”

The official stewards’ report said Constitution Hill had bled from the nose after the contest, but Henderson insisted the horse was “100 per cent OK”.

He added: “I think he’ll have no problem staying further and it was a tough race this today and he has ran with a lot of credit.”

Watching on with interest – and never far from Constitution Hill’s side – was Nico de Boinville.

Henderson’s Seven Barrows number one has enjoyed many special days at Kempton aboard the nine-year-old but was grinning proudly, now consigned to the role of chief supporter, as his old pal continues to thrill all associated.

De Boinville said: “I thought he ran a great race considering he’s rated 101 and the others are rated so highly.

“He looked like he got to the furlong pole and just petered out slightly, but he hasn’t run since Kempton in March and is bound to come on for the run.

“It’s still exciting and the dream is still alive. It’s a bit different watching him to riding him when he’s running, but I’ve had a great day here at Kempton and the horse is enjoying himself and I thought he ran a super race.”