Andy Newton

Constitution Hill Next Race? As former Champion Hurdler raised 7lbs after September Stakes run

by
Andy Newton
8 September 2026

The official BHA handicapper has reassessed Constitution Hill, raising the high-profile convert’s Flat rating by 7lb to a new mark of 108 following his fourth-place finish in the Group 3 William Hill September Stakes at Kempton Park on September 5.

Having previously held an official rating of 101 after sweeping his first two all-weather novice starts in the spring, Nicky Henderson’s star took a significant step up in class over Kempton’s 1m 4f distance – despite finishing 4th (of five runners).

Ridden by Billy Loughnane, Constitution Hill sat in fourth behind early pace-setter Gethin and mounted a brief challenge turning for home before finishing fourth behind Group 2 winner Pride Of Arras in the recent ITV Racing contest.

While the result put an end to ambitious plans for an Australian autumn campaign in the Melbourne Cup, the performance was viewed positively by both connections and handicappers considering the step up in quality.

Previous Rating: 101
New Official Mark: 108
Adjustment: +7lb• Race: William Hill September Stakes (Group 3), September 5, Kempton Park
Finishing Position: 4th of 5 (beaten 2¾ lengths)

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Constitution Hill Next Races: Where Next?

Constitution Hill

The 7lb rise firmly establishes Constitution Hill as a high-class flat handicapper while keeping his options open across several paths:

Lucrative Handicaps: A mark of 108 puts him in the frame for big-field, high-value handicaps in Britain and Ireland, where his class and stamina over 1m 4f to 1m 6f could prove effective under lighter weights.
Pattern Level: The performance against Group 3 horses proved he can hold his own in listed and mid-tier Group company.
Autumn Plans: Trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed the horse came through the race well-dispelling initial post-race scope concerns-and noted that the run will sharpen him up as they map out his autumn program.

Next Possible Race Targets for Constitution Hill (Mark: 108)

Now that the BHA handicapper has allocated Constitution Hill a rating of 108, trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley have several options available for the remainder of the autumn season:

Major Autumn Handicaps

The Cesarewitch Handicap (Newmarket, 2m4f – October): A marquee target for staying Flat horses with National Hunt connections.

Off 108, he would sit near the top of the weights, but the 2m4f distance plays directly into his proven stamina reserves.

The October Handicap / November Handicap (York/Doncaster, 1m4f to 1m6f): Valuable premier handicaps late in the turf season where a rating of 108 makes him an automatic qualifier, giving connections the option of staying at middle distances.

Pattern & Listed Company

Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Ascot, Group 3, 1m4f – October): A natural step if connections prefer to remain in Group company on turf over 1m 4f without running in a big handicap field.
St Simon Stakes (Newbury, Group 3, 1m4f – October): A late-season Group 3 option that often attracts soft-ground middle-distance horses, fitting well with his late-autumn timing.
Floodlit Stakes (Kempton Park, Listed, 1m4f – November): A return to his favoured all-weather surface at Kempton in Listed company, where he would be one of the highest-rated runners in the field.

International Options

Prix Royal-Oak or Prix de Chaudenay Fixtures (Longchamp, France): While the Melbourne Cup is off the table due to qualification requirements, European Group staying targets in France remain open on testing autumn ground.

Nicky Henderson has noted that he will monitor how the gelding recovers before confirming his next target, with a premier handicap or a return to Listed/Group 3 level the most logical next steps.

Speaking after the September Stakes, Nicky 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 [go on]. 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.”