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Constitution Hill is one of 10 entries for Wednesday's Virgin Bet Novice Stakes at Kempton Park, with Ryan Moore set to take over in the saddle from the suspended Oisin Murphy when the son of Blue Bresil attempts to build on a hugely impressive start to his Flat career at Southwell last month. Trained by Nicky Henderson for owner Michael Buckley, Constitution Hill proved himself an outstanding hurdler when breaking the track record to win the G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle by 22 lengths at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. He went on to win the following year's G1 Champion Hurdle but fell in the race last year. That tumble was followed by two more in 2025, in both the G1 Aintree Hurdle and the G1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle. As a result of those jumping difficulties and the striking nature of his Southwell victory, by nine and a half lengths from the 85-rated Square Necker (Zarak), Constitution Hill's connections subsequently took the decision to bring the curtain down on his National Hunt career and focus on the Flat. All being well, the next step on that road will come at Kempton's evening fixture next week, with Moore set to benefit from the misfortune of champion jockey Murphy when he takes the mount on the nine-year-old. Henderson said, “Of course, it would have helped if he [Murphy] could have ridden him, because he knows him, but it's one of those unfortunate things. “We're not running him for experience or anything like that. He doesn't need experience. The crux of it is that we probably need to get him a handicap mark and so this is the second leg. “We've talked about the [G3] John Porter [Stakes, at Newbury on Saturday, April 18]. That is three and half weeks after Kempton. We could possibly do that and then he's had his three runs and he's got a mark which opens up all avenues.” He added, “We've no idea what he is. Nobody knows what rating he'll get. You can't judge it after one run and nor can I. Let's see what he can do again. “Nico [de Boinville] came and sat on him this morning, only because he's ridden him in all of his gallops and knows him very well. I asked him to sit on him and he said he felt in good form.” The post Constitution Hill Poised for Second Flat Appearance at Kempton appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Mating plans for some of the illustrious names at the Aga Khan Studs have been revealed, with Zarigana, the winner of last year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, set to visit Justify for her maiden cover in 2026, while the four-time Group 1 scorer Tahiyra goes to Frankel. Tahiyra and Zarigana are both Classic-winning daughters of Siyouni, who will reportedly receive an increased number of around 30 mares from the Aga Khan Studs due to the injury to Zarak which has temporarily sidelined him from covering duties. Among them is another winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in 2024 heroine Rouhiya (Lope De Vega), whose first foal, born on February 15, is a filly by Sea The Stars. Others booked in to visit Siyouni include Alaiya (Sea The Stars), the dam of the G2 Solonway Stakes winner Alakazi (Footstepsinthesand); Azmaniya, a Deep Impact half-sister to the multiple Group 1-winning sire The Autumn Sun; Baiykara (Zarak), a Group-winning half-sister to last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf scorer Balantina (Ten Sovereigns); Candarliya (Dalakhani), the multiple Group 2-winning dam of last year's Prix de Diane third Cankoura (Persian King); Darylakha, a Lope De Vega half-sister to Arc hero Daryz (Sea The Stars); and Narmeen (Le Havre), who has already produced last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Narissa by Siyouni. At Gilltown Stud, Sea The Stars is the mating of choice for the Oaks winner Ezeliya (Dubawi), who recently produced her first foal, a filly by Justify. Sea The Stars will also receive Zarka (Dubawi), a full-sister to Zarak out of champion Zarkava (Zamindar), and Dariyza (Dawn Approach), a stakes-winning half-sister to Daryz. Meanwhile, foals already on the ground from the second crop of Vadeni include a colt out of the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Ridasiyna (Motivator), the dam of last year's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein victor Ridari (Churchill). Among Vadeni's book of mares in 2026 will be the stakes scorer Canndera, a Dalakhani half-sister to last year's G1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier winner Candelari (Frankel); Baiyouna (Sea The Stars), a winning half-sister to the G1 Secretariat Stakes hero Bayrir (Medicean); Reynira (Lope De Vega), a black-type producer whose half-sister produced Rouhiya; Dubawi's dual Group 3 winner Tanaza; the Group 3-placed Etneya, a Siyouni half-sister to the dam of Ezeliya; and Baiyka (Lope De Vega), a half-sister to Balantina. Elsewhere, the aforementioned Ridasiyna will visit Erevann, whose first crop are also yearlings this year. Azmiyna (Galileo), dam of The Autumn Sun, is another choice Aga Khan mare heading to Erevann, along with Candara (Barathea), the dam of four stakes winners, including Candelari, and Vaderana (Monsun), the dam of Vadeni. Other high-profile mares visiting outside stallions this year include Daryz's Group 2-winning half-sister Darkaniya (Frankel), who visits Dubawi; Rondonia (Raven's Pass), who goes back to Lope De Vega in a repeat of the mating that produced Rouhiya; and the multiple Group 1 winner Tarnawa (Shamardal), who joins Zarigana on the trip across the Atlantic to visit Justify. The post Zarigana to Visit Justify for Maiden Cover as Aga Khan Studs Reveal Mating Plans appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In the new "At the Track" monthly column featuring how racetracks are using experiences, events, ideas, facilities, and more to increase interest in the sport, we focus on the new Paddock Building at Keeneland set to open April 3.View the full article

A new partnership has been announced between Chester Racecourse and The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), creating an international pathway from the Boodles May Festival to some of the most prestigious Graded races in America. Under the initiative, the winner of the G3 Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes (Thursday, May 7) at Chester's May Festival will receive automatic entry and travel incentives to compete in the GII Belmont Gold Cup (Thursday, June 4), worth $250,000. The Belmont Gold Cup has been hosted at Saratoga Race Course since 2024 while the new Belmont Park is being redeveloped. Meanwhile, the winner of Chester's G2 Huxley Stakes (Friday, May 8) will secure guaranteed entry into the prestigious GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes, which is valued at $1 million and takes place on the undercard of the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga on Saturday, June 6. Patrick Chesters, Chester Racecourse Racing Director, said, “We're delighted to be partnering with the New York Racing Association on this exciting new initiative. Bringing together two of the most historic venues in racing creates a fantastic opportunity to strengthen international connections within racing and showcase the quality of our racing programme at Chester. “The Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes and the Huxley Stakes have long been important middle-distance contests in the early part of the season, and this partnership enhances their international significance. To offer guaranteed entry into races of the calibre of the Belmont Gold Cup and the Manhattan Stakes, with the added incentive of travel support, gives owners and trainers a very real and attractive opportunity to campaign horses on the global stage. “The potential pathway from the Ormonde through to Belmont is particularly exciting. We will certainly be hoping to tempt some great horses to the Roodee that might have a future trip to America on their radars.” Andrew Offerman, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations, added, “This is an exciting partnership connecting two of the sport's most revered and historic venues, which can only expand interest in these important races. We appreciate the partnership with Chester Racecourse and look forward to a fantastic summer at Saratoga.” The post Chester Racecourse and NYRA Announce New Transatlantic Partnership appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Thirty-three years after falling agonisingly short of Hong Kong Derby glory, Nick Etches returns to the city’s biggest race with high hopes of realising every owner’s dream with Invincible Ibis on Sunday. A long-time member of the Jockey Club and still a voting member, Etches almost tasted the ultimate success when his galloper Red Ruffian ran half a length second to Helene Star in the 1993 Derby. “We were standing here in the paddock – the old paddock in those days – thinking how lucky it was...View the full article