A HUGE gamble on Constitution Hill continues to snowball – as Nicky Henderson’s stable star puts his £2.4million Melbourne Cup future on the line.
The former Champion Hurdle monster has been smashed into 4-1 from 12-1 for Saturday’s Group 3 William Hill September Stakes at Kempton.
His chances of winning got a huge boost on Wednesday when ante-post second-favourite Bay City Roller defected to Sunday’s Prix Foy at Longchamp.
Owen Burrows’ Arc de Triomphe fancy Gethin is the 6-4 market leader but the bulk of money is all for the punter favourite code-switcher.
Ladbrokes’ Nicola McGeady said: “Constitution Hill is the horse everyone wants to be with this weekend.
“He’s up against some really good horses but punters are backing him in their droves.
“It would be a fantastic story for racing fans, but not such a great one for us.”
Seven Barrows boss Henderson recently suggested a trip to November’s Melbourne Cup – one of the world’s richest races – could be back on.
But first and foremost Constitution Hill has to finish in the top three at Kempton to qualify for the ‘race that stops a nation’.
If he doesn’t then he will instantly be ruled out of one of the Flemington feature, for which he is as short as 16-1.
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Henderson said: “The first thing he has to do, talking about Australia, is he has to finish in the first three, otherwise he’s not qualified full stop.
“In a Group 3, you have to be placed in the first three, so he’s got to finish first, second or third and if he doesn’t then Melbourne is out instantly – that is game over.
“And he needs to go up 6lb or 7lb to have a chance getting into the race, so they are the two principal criteria.
“If he did finish in the first three and he did go up 6lb, then it would be possible, and I know Michael (Buckley, owner) is very keen.
“I’d love to do it, but we will only know by Sunday morning whether it’s a complete no-no or it is still a possibility.”
Punters think it’s possible, with Coral even predicting Constitution Hill could go off near favourite this weekend.
The firm’s John Hill said: “Constitution Hill has been well backed throughout the week, and that support has continued following the declarations for Saturday’s September Stakes.
“He’s now just behind Tornado Alert (second-fav) in the betting, and if the confidence behind the former Champion Hurdle winner continues, he could close the gap on Gethin at the head of the market come Saturday afternoon.”
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