BOXING day will be a busy day for us all at Seven Barrows as we will be sending out eight runners, seven of which run at Kempton Park and we, like you, are all looking forward to the return to the racecourse of Constitution Hill.
1.55 Kempton Park
It’s been exactly twelve months since Constitution Hill ran his last race when winning the Christmas hurdle in tremendous style, and it’s a credit to everyone here at Seven Barrows that he is able to return to Kempton following the well documented issues we have had with him in the intervening time.
I must say Constitution Hill is in really good shape – I’ve never seen him look better; he is super in his skin and is a very happy person, while his work here has been excellent. But I must say we go into this race with our eyes wide open and unlike last year’s race there is a super potent opponent in the shape of Lossiemouth who has both the benefit of a recent run and that seven pound mares allowance (which she will always have) which will make things very interesting. It’s a big advantage while we’re entitled to come on for the run.
That leads me to believe that Constitution Hill doesn’t have to win on this occasion as much as we would love to. He will undoubtedly be beaten one day and I fear that this might be the one. I sincerely believe that whatever happens here, he will be the horse they all have to beat in the Unibet Champion hurdle in March.
12:45 Kempton Park
The day kicks off with this novices handicap chase and we run First Street. I’ve been looking forward to running him back over fences for some time. He hardly set the chasing world alight last season following three runs, but he has schooled very well recently and we have tinkered with his breathing since his last hurdles run so he may well be a different proposition this time around over the larger obstacles and on the better ground.
1.20pm Kempton Park
The one thing Hyland has always excelled at is jumping and every time we have stepped him up in class over fences he has answered, but this will be the toughest race of his career. His jumping, ability to stay and the better ground are all in his favour here, and he’s earnt the right to have a crack at this grade one event.
3.05pm Kempton Park
Kientzheim arrived at Seven Barrows in the autumn having looked a smart bumper horse in France, winning a couple of times. Both of those successes were on a softer surface that she may encounter at Kempton, where the going is currently described as being good. She has been off the track since February and has pleased us since coming here. We’ll know a lot more following her first run for us on Thursday. She is a close relative of Epatante who was a superstar for us winning the Unibet Champion hurdle.
3.40pm Kempton Park
We’ve got three runners in the finale. Doddiethegreat didn’t seem to enjoy it on his chasing debut last time, so we’ve decided to revert back to hurdling with him. He has already won over the smaller obstacles at Kempton and Nico takes the ride. Our conditional Freddie Gordon keeps the ride on East India Express having won on the five year old at Ascot last Friday. It’s unusual for us to run one back so quickly, but I am told by the handicapper that he will go up 6lb in the future for that win, so as that Ascot race was a conditional jockeys contest he won’t carry a penalty here and Freddie can also claim 5lbs. the prevailing good ground is essential for In the Air and Tom Cannon, who has ridden him before, is on board. In the Air has won a couple of times for us already and was unfortunate not to make that three at Taunton last time when beaten in a photo finish.
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