THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, APPARENTLY, HIP HIP HOORAY, JULIAN MUSCAT'S TOP TEN & LESTER WAS FUNNY.

It is, according to the front page of today's Racing Post, Judgement Day for Constitution Hill. The great horse has had quite a few judgement days since he first went down with the 'twisties', as gymnast Simone Biles described her short-term fall from grace. He had a kind of judgment day when he first hit the deck in the Champion Hurdle won by Golden Ace. Then he fell again. Then he ran deplorably at Punchestown. Then there was the judgement day at Newcastle and then the one behind closed doors when he nearly fell twice schooling at Lambourn. The there was Southwell. So, Constitution Hill is well used to his fans and others choosing to call judgement on him.

After two champion jockeys have had a go on him, it is the champio-elect who will be on board this afternoon at Kempton. I hope his presence, the horse not the jockey, doubles the usual Saturday attendance at the beleagured racecourse. This, today, is a Group 3, with a Group 1 winner in opposition. This is not a field of maidens. This is a nine-year-old attempting to win a Group race on only his third start on the flat. It is going to be a tough ask. Will he be up to it? Possibly. There are five in opposition, one of which is older than Constitution Hill. The King's horse, Warrant Holder, could spring a surprise. Pride of Arras and Gethin, both of whom are a mile ahead of the great horse on ratings, have been known to disappoint as often as they have looked genuine Group horses. Tornado Alert is a Group 1 winner and Oisin has chosen him over Constitution Hill, which for a jockey desperate for winners to keep himself in with a chance of retaing his jockey's title is significant. I half hope Constitution Hill can do it; I also half hope he fails as I believe it would not be the best interests of the horse to be shipped to the other side of the world to run in one most competitive races on the planet, which winning today would allow him to do. Fence sitting, with fingers crossed, is the best position to take on this year's renewal of the September Stake, I suggest.

Three cheers for the European Pattern Committee for accepting France Galop's proposal to allow geldings to take part in future Prix de'L Arc de Triomphes. Obviously, there will be anger, big tears and an attitude of the world coming to an end by those who might lose-out financially if geldings were to win the Arc on a regular basis. Which, I suggest, is unlikely to happen. Coolmore, for instance, which at present only has one gelding in training at Ballydoyle, will lead the concert for the newly oppressed, with others with investments in stallions equally put-out by a decision which is all about racing on the track rather than boosting the bank balance of the greedy buggers at the top table of the breeding industry..

Julian Muscat, in todays Racing Post, reveals his top ten St. Legers, with an article on Nijinsky in tomorrow's paper named as number one. His ten choices, with the exception of West Australia in 1853, the first horse to win the 2,000-guineas, Derby and St. Leger, prove my point that the St.Leger over recent times has become the consolation classic. Just to take three of Muscat's top ten: the 2008 winner, Conduit, went on the following season to win the King George & Queen Elisabeth Stakes; in 1957 Ballymoss became Vincent O'Brien's first classic winner. The following season he won the Coronation Cup, Eclipse, K.G. & Q E. and the Arc; in 1977 Dunfermline won for the Queen, beating Alleged who went on to win two Arcs. Great horses used to run in the St. Leger but no more. I will remain of that view even if, as I believe, Christmas Day wins his second British classic.

Muscat also reminds readers of perhaps Lester Piggott's most humorous quip. In 1984, Lester talked his way on to the back of Commanche Run, jocking off a miffed Darrell McHargue. When asked what he would doing during the St. Leger, he replied that he would be playing tennis. At Doncaster as the rain fell, Lester was asked if the weather would ruin Commanche Run's chance. 'No, he replied, a smile on his face. 'But it will ruin McHargue's tennis.'