Constitution Hill likely to head abroad as Henderson considers Gran Premio del Jockey Club
Nicky Henderson is keeping international options open for Constitution Hill following the horse’s first defeat on the Flat in the September Stakes at Kempton. The seven-barrows-trained nine-year-old saw his official rating rise to 108 after that run, effectively ruling out domestic handicap targets and prompting connections to explore alternative assignments late in October.
With the horse’s Melbourne Cup hopes now set aside, Henderson has identified the Group Two Gran Premio del Jockey Club at Milan’s San Siro on October 25 as a realistic possibility. The race, contested at a mile and a quarter, would come a day after the BetVictor St Simon Stakes at Newbury, which represents the nearer home option for the same weekend.
Logistics and weekend clashes
Henderson acknowledged the practical complications around choosing a destination for that weekend. Racing at Cheltenham is scheduled across Friday and Saturday, with the Italian contest on the Sunday — a sequence that makes planning more complex for a horse with close links to the jumps festival.
He has also previously hinted at a potential end-of-season trip to Bahrain in November, but for now the immediate focus appears to be finding a suitable target in late October. Henderson confirmed that Constitution Hill will not run in this weekend’s BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes, and said the plan is to freshen the horse for a carefully chosen seasonal finale.
Why Italy is under consideration
The Milan race presents certain attractions. It is a valuable Group Two event that last year drew a high-class entry and carries prize-money appealing to an owner keen to campaign internationally. Henderson stressed that ground conditions would be a key factor in any decision — if the going at San Siro proves suitable, the race would be on the agenda.
The trainer was mindful of the reaction of supporters in Britain should the horse be sent abroad, saying that travelling was part of the original plan for the autumn campaign and offering an apology in advance to those disappointed by the move. He emphasised the intention to do “something nice” with the horse before the season closes.
Where this leaves Constitution Hill’s Flat campaign
Constitution Hill’s step back from handicap racing on account of his rating leaves a limited domestic programme for autumn, particularly given the prominence of high-value pattern races and the logistical demands of international travel. Henderson and his team are now building the horse back into work after ruling out Ascot and stepping away for a short recovery following Kempton.
Should connections opt for Milan, Constitution Hill would contest a different type of pattern race to those on the British autumn calendar, and the decision will hinge on fitness, ground and the logistical picture around a busy weekend of racing in the UK and Europe.
Next steps
- Constitution Hill will be rested briefly after Kempton as Henderson assesses his condition and form.
- Connections are weighing the Gran Premio del Jockey Club at San Siro on 25 October against the BetVictor St Simon Stakes at Newbury on 24 October.
- Any final choice will depend on ground suitability in Italy and the broader logistical considerations posed by a weekend that features racing at Cheltenham.
For now, the prospect of a continental outing keeps the autumn campaign of one of Britain’s most talked-about ex‑hurdlers firmly in the headlines as the season moves towards its close.
This article may have been prepared in whole or in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
