Constitution Hill to run at Windsor at end of August, with Melbourne Cup target

Constitution Hill is set for his third start on the Flat in a Listed race at Windsor on August 29. Connections now fully realize that a victory there could make an audacious, long-shot bid at the Lexus Melbourne Cup just a little more likely.

After running out of time to qualify for the big race Down Under, the former superstar hurdler for the Sky Bet Ebor, Nicky Henderson is pointing the nine-year-old toward the Weatherbys Digital Solutions August Stakes at Windsor.

It’s a natural next step for a horse who kicked off his flat campaign in style earlier this year, winning under Oisin Murphy at Southwell in February and following it up with a victory under Ryan Moore at Kempton the next month.

Looking further down the road, Henderson and owner Michael Buckley have officially upgraded the Melbourne Cup from “impossible dream” to “pipedream” status, thanks to some encouraging words on Monday from Paul Bloodworth, Racing Victoria’s head of racing.

Speaking on Tuesday, Henderson said:

“Michael and I both think the Windsor race is a good starting point. It will be a prep race for what comes next, and I do think he should be up to winning a Listed race, but we also know that by having a third run he would become eligible for the big handicaps. “

“The only other race we would think about at the moment is the Prix Kergorlay, which Ryan [Moore] thought would be a good option for him. That’s a Group 2, though, and it probably makes more sense to start at Listed level.” Henderson told the Racing Post

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The Path to Melbourne

While the Kergorlay-which closes for entries on Wednesday-offers its winner a golden ticket straight into the Melbourne Cup, the Deauville race on August 23 is looking less likely.

If they skip France, Constitution Hill has a specific set of hoops to jump through.

To pass the Flemington ballot criteria, he either needs to win a Listed race over at least 2,300 meters (the Windsor race is just a fraction over that distance) or finish in the top three in a Group race of the same distance or further.

Henderson, who made the decision to retire Constitution Hill from jumping after a tough run of three falls in four starts, shared his thoughts on the surprise interest from Down Under:

“We had a visit yesterday from Racing Victoria, which was unusual, because they wouldn’t normally find a Melbourne Cup possibility lurking in Seven Barrows. I think they would be very keen for us to try and do it, and I agree it would be a tremendous thing to do, but there are several reasons why it almost certainly can’t happen.

“One is that, as things stand now, he wouldn’t get in the race. They tell me the bottom weight is normally rated around 108, and we’re currently on 101, so we have to go up 7lb for a start. I suspect he would need to be mightily impressive at Windsor for the handicapper to raise him by 7lb.

“That said, there is probably time to get in a second run in September and my assistant George Daly has been scouring the European programme book. He has been looking at Ireland, France and Germany. The only thing we’ve taken off the agenda is the ice in Switzerland.”

For Henderson, it ultimately comes down to enjoying the journey with a horse who has already given them so much.

“If we thought he was going to get into the Melbourne Cup, would we do it? Well, it would certainly be fun, and that’s what we now want to have with the horse. If he happened to qualify in all departments, you would have to think about it, but I don’t think we can say any more than that at the moment.”

The last British-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup was the Charlie Appleby-trained Cross Counter for Godolphin.