The racing world is abuzz once again with Constitution Hill fever. Nicky Henderson‘s star has his second flat start booked at Kempton on Wednesday night, with the track selling tickets quickly.
As with Southwell’s meeting in February, there will rarely have been a build-up to a Kempton all-weather card such as this. Constitution Hill dazzled to win by nine-and-a-half lengths at the Midlands track and now his sights set on maintaining his unbeaten start to his flat career.
The class 3 novice event has attracted eight runners in all. However, there is only one name which matters to the majority of punters in attendance. That fact is recognised by Simon Durrant, Kempton’s general manager, who is delighted by the publicity centring on the meeting.
“We were very excited to see him declared this (Monday) morning,” Durrant said to the Racing Post. “Constitution Hill under the lights is what it’s all about and we’re hoping to see his fans and supporters come and cheer him on.”
Durrant also admits that Constitution Hill’s presence will be significant in attracting a crowd. Ticket sales are positively through the roof compared to a regular Wednesday evening at Kempton.
“We’re not going to be at the dizzy heights as when he was racing in front of a King George crowd, but we have seen an increase in ticket sales and we probably will between now and Wednesday, which is really positive.
“We’re looking for a healthy Wednesday fixture with some fans and supporters of Constitution Hill coming along to watch him compete against seven others.”
“We’ve got to get on, he is nine” – Henderson
While the anticipation and publicity is good for racing, Nicky Henderson has confessed to some jangling nerves ahead of Wednesdasy.
Speaking to Racing TV, via Sporting Life, Henderson said: “I wish I hadn’t declared him. I don’t know why we put ourselves through this!”
Though that comment was surely just a quip, he also explained the feeling behind it.
“The night at Southwell, you could see the point in that, it was just to see if it would work. Now he’s pivoted into film star land and we’re putting all the pressure on ourselves. We want to go forwards and he doesn’t exactly need experience does he? But we’ve got to get on, he is nine so it’s not as if we’ve got a long career ahead of us.”
The pressure of the racing public’s eyes will be on the newsmaking nine-year-old once again. Considering the talent of his charge though, Henderson nevertheless had a twinkle in his eye with his concluding comment.
“It will be fun I hope.”