Constitution Hill faces a proper ratings examination at Kempton on Saturday, with the former Champion Hurdle winner stepping into Group company on the Flat for the first time. Timeform’s assessment suggests the 9-year-old still has scope for improvement, but also underlines just how stiff a task this is against established opposition.
That is the key point here. Constitution Hill arrives with a Flat mark of 113P after two starts, both of which came in victories at Southwell and Kempton, but he is now being asked to take a significant step up in class in the September Stakes.
Kieran Clark: Constitution Hill still has work to do
Timeform’s Kieran Clark made the challenge plain when discussing the race. He said that with Gethin having already shown a level good enough to win a standard renewal of what is becoming one of the classiest Group 3s in the calendar, Constitution Hill must improve appreciably if he is to stay unbeaten on the Flat.
Clark also pointed out that the Timeform “P” beside Constitution Hill’s rating is a reminder that there may be more to come. But potential only goes so far at this level, and he will need to find that improvement quickly if he is to beat a rival who has already come within a neck of beating Ombudsman this season.
What the ratings say about Saturday's race
The numbers make the task clear. Constitution Hill’s 113P is heading into a race where Gethin is rated 127, a sizeable gap even before considering the level of form already on the page. In simple terms, this is not just a return to the Flat — it is a serious test of whether Constitution Hill can translate his hurdling class into this deeper company.
Owen Burrows has Gethin in strong form for the contest, and that adds another layer to the challenge for Nicky Henderson’s horse. Constitution Hill has already proven he can win on the Flat, but the September Stakes is different because it is the first time he has had to deal with Group-level opposition in this sphere.
For all the excitement around his versatility, Saturday is about substance rather than sentiment. If Constitution Hill is to remain unbeaten on the Flat, he has to close a notable ratings gap against a horse with the proven level to make this a genuine test.
