The possibility of seeing Constitution Hill take part in the Melbourne Cup moved slightly closer to becoming a reality after he appeared among 101 entries for Australia's flagship race.
Nicky Henderson's former hurdling superstar is just one name amongst a star-studded British & Irish entry; two-time winner Joseph O'Brien accounting for 11 of them as he makes his hat-trick bid.
Joseph's father, Aidan O'Brien, has Derby winner Christmas Day in the race, as well at St Leger hopeful Amelia Earhart and Royal Ascot-winning colt Causeway. The Melbourne Cup is one of the few races that has evaded the Ballydoyle supremo across his illustrious training career, finishing runner-up with Johannes Vermeer.
Unbeaten on two starts on the Flat, Constitution Hill would be a fascinating addition to the 2026 marathon contest. The nine-year-old won the 2023 Champion Hurdle but has since been switched to the Flat and is gearing up to make his return in the September Stakes at Kempton on Saturday.
Connections appeared to cool on a trip down under earlier in the year but plans look to have changed heading into the Autumn.
Of the Joseph O'Brien contingent, the market has Defiantly as his best chance of gaining a third win at 10/1. He is on a huge upwards trajectory, winning two races on the spin after finishing runner-up in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting, raising his rating 21lbs from a mark of 94, to his latest assessment of 115.
James J Braddock would also be an extremely interesting runner for the O'Brien set up. The Zarak gelding won the Leopardstown Derby Trial right at the very beginning of the campaign and has since gone onto finish third in the Epsom Derby behind the aforementioned Christmas Day.
Aside from Constitution Hill, there are three further English entries: Roger Varian's Enfjaar, George Boughey's Hopewell Rock and Harry Charlton's Wine Dark Sea.
Interestingly, there will be no Willie Mullins at this year's Melbourne Cup. Both Absurde and Vauban have been fancied contenders for the Closutton maestro in the past but he has decided against putting a horse in the mix this time around.
Last year's winner Half Yours is the current 9/1 favourite for the race after hacking up under Jamie Melham last November.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
