Constitution Hill ruled out of Melbourne Cup campaign

Former champion jumper Constitution Hill will not travel to Australia for the Melbourne Cup after failing to satisfy the qualifying requirements for the $10 million feature.

The Nicky Henderson-trained galloper was attempting to secure his place in the race when he contested Saturday’s September Stakes (2400m) on the all-weather track at Kempton.

Sent out a $5.50 chance, Constitution Hill finished fourth in the five-horse field, approximately six lengths behind winner Pride Of Arras.

The result ended plans for a trip to Flemington, with Henderson confirming the Melbourne Cup was now off the table.

“Melbourne is gone now sadly. Today was always going to tell us what we were going to do next, and I suppose he’s posing us another question now.

“I don’t think we want to go under a mile and a half (2400m), that is for sure, and 12, 13 or 14 furlongs seems to be the range of where we go with him.

“I do think he is going to come on for the run, what with the way he got there as if it was going to happen, but from a furlong out I think he took a bit of a blow. It will sharpen him up.”

Constitution Hill had been among 101 nominations for this year’s Melbourne Cup after connections were encouraged by his recent flat victories at Southwell and Kempton in considerably easier company.

The 2023 champion hurdler needed to finish in the placings in the September Stakes to satisfy the Melbourne Cup’s first ballot clause.

A victory or particularly strong performance was also required to improve his flat rating, which otherwise would have left him around the minimum weight for the Melbourne Cup.

A veterinary examination following Saturday’s race found Constitution Hill had bled from one nostril, although Henderson indicated the horse was fine and would continue his flat racing campaign in the United Kingdom.