IT may not be the best race this weekend – but it will probably be the most-watched.
Former Cheltenham Festival superstar and Champion Hurdle king Constitution Hill is making his eagerly anticipated return on the Flat.
Previously unthinkable for one of the slickest jumpers ever seen, Constitution Hill’s career fell off a cliff when he, well, kept falling.
At the age of nine he has switched to the Flat and is 2-2 so far… but on Saturday comes his toughest assignment yet.
A Group 3 over 1m4f at Kempton featuring genuine Group 1 stars in the shape of Gethin and Tornado Alert, not to mention former Derby fancy Pride Of Arras.
Bookies are running scared of the result.
Constitution Hill has been hammered in from as big as 12-1 to 4-1… and is now trading around 11-2.
Some firms say they are staring at six-figure losses should he get the job done.
But will he?
King Charles is among those taking him on in the seven-runner field.
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His Royal Highness saddles 11-1 Warrant Holder, who will be looking to pick up a place with other outsiders Almeric and Dubai Future.
Gethin is the 2-1 market leader while Group 1 winner Tornado Alert has been well supported into 11-4.
But here’s what Sun Racing’s top tipster Templegate has to say about Constitution Hill…
It’s not normal for a horse to win its first Group race at the age of nine – but Constitution Hill is no ordinary horse.
He has done really well on both Flat runs so far but he’s in against the big boys now and will need another step forward.
That could happen but he’d be getting more than a stone from some of these rivals if this was a handicap and I think he’ll come up short.
A place is possible but winning is asking a lot.
And his prediction?
1st Gethin
2nd Tornado Alert
3rd Constitution Hill
In truth, third would be good for Constitution Hill.
He has been off all summer and a top three finish would be enough for him to qualify for the Melbourne Cup and its £2.4million first-place prize.
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It will also get him an official handicap mark and allow Hendo to carve out a future career where he can be competitive and win.
On Saturday at 2.50pm live on ITV1, it really is all to play for.
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