CONSTITUTION HILL TO ITALY, ARC, PORTMAN CUP & MORE KING GEORGE BAD NEWS.

The Gran Premio del Jockey Club at San Siro is to be the next appearance of Constitution Hill. The Group 2 is on October 25th. I do think they have made a bit of a bollocks of this project. The September Stakes was a mistake, I now believe. In achieving a higher handicap mark they made so many otherwise suitable races unavailable to them and now they must chase glory in races that could easily attract either proven Group 1 horses in search of soft ground or a three-year-old that will become a Group 1 horse next season. As always, though, I hope Nicky Henderson once again proves me wrong.

I do not concur with the cynics who believe Constitution Hill garners unwarrented attention. He remains the one equine superstar we have in this country and we are likely to only have him for another two-seasons at most. If only we had the flat schedule open to Nicky Henderson that was open to Peter Easterby when he had Sea Pigeon, perhaps the greatest dual-purpose horse of all-time, though definitely of my life-time. Easterby had the advantage that before Sea Pigeon was bought to go hurdling, he had already run on the flat, so when it was decided to chase some flat pots, the horse already had a workable mark. Sea Pigeon even ran in some amateur races. Computerised handicapping began, I believe, a rot that has produced unattractive and uninventive race conditions. It is my contention that everything that can be done, and done by everyone involved in the sport, should be done to help the sport in every way possible. Nicky Henderson has received no help from either the B.H.A. or those who frame races when it comes to providing suitable races for Constitution Hill, and I say that because I am unsure that the horse is group class on the flat and that in being forced down this route, he will forever have a handicap mark that will preclude any chance of him running in the sort of race where he can regain winning ways. The horse puts bums on seats and yet, it seems, those bums will have to travel Italy to support the great horse. Those bums should be sitting on seats that generate income for British racecourses. It is this sort of short-sighteness that hinders our sport.

Tis the Arc this Sunday and I remain bemused by ground conditions at Longchamp. I have watched racing from Auteiul and Bordeaux recently where the ground was at the very least soft. Yet Longchamp has received no rain, until yesterday, for close on to a thousand-years or a good while, anyway. Bon souple is the current ground condition and apparently it is not only French-language-allergic people like me who have no idea what the ground might ride like come Saturday. At the moment I am favouring Friendly Soul for the Arc. What a story that would make? From nearly breaking a leg to Arc joy.

Pleased to see the race Bryony de Clerc, as she now is, made her own, Taunton's Portman Cup, is making a comeback as a 0-150 handicap on February 9th. Obviously, come-back is a misnomer as it only had a lifespan of 4-years, with Yala Enki winning it 3-times. Back then it was a conditions chase, one of only a few such races in the whole calendar. The race is to be sponsored by the Barbers cheese-making company and it is hoped it will become a noted trial for the Aintree National. I cannot think that madame de Clerc will be making an appearance, though. Another 'star' that slipped through British fingers.

The King George at Kempton on Boxing Day is already losing top-name horses. First The Jukebox Man was ruled-out due to injury and now Jango Baie has gone the same way. Lulamba is heading to the King George, though, and perhaps, fingers firmly crossed, Jonbon might be given an entry. The King George is only 3-months away, you know. May I be the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Contented New Year.