Constitution Hill team eyes Melbourne Cup

The UK’s champion jumper Constitution Hill is under consideration for a campaign aimed at contesting the 2026 Melbourne Cup.

Owner Michael Buckley told Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme that Australia’s most famous race is “what I’d like to aim at” for the gelding later this year.

Buckley and trainer Nicky Henderson have not yet decided whether Constitution Hill will return to jumps duty at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, with all options still under consideration.

The nine‑year‑old resumed with a 9-1/2 length victory over 2414m on Southwell’s all‑weather track in his first Flat start.

Buckley said the gelding “should be running around about the end of August or beginning of September” in European black‑type races such as the Ebor or Irish St Leger with a view to qualifying for the Melbourne Cup.

“He should stay two miles on the Flat, so we’ll see how it goes, but the plan is to give him the opportunity to go to Australia.,” Buckley said.