'There would be no pressure and it's always been a dream of mine' - door open for Constitution Hill to run at Royal Ascot

Constitution Hill is the surprise name to feature alongside reigning champion Kyprios in the entries for the Gold Cup, with owner Michael Buckley saying winning the Royal Ascot showpiece with the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner has always been a dream of his. 

The star hurdler, who remains on course for the Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday, failed to complete at either Cheltenham or Aintree after falling at both spring festivals and would be making his debut on the Flat were he to take up the entry. 

Champion Hurdle runner-up Burdett Road – who has high-class form on the Flat – also features among the entries for the Gold Cup, as does another very smart dual-purpose operator in the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde. Coral make Constitution Hill a 16-1 shot for the Gold Cup, with Kyprios the 10-11 favourite.

Trainer Nicky Henderson, speaking from Punchestown, said: "He has the entry. At least he's in. If he's not in, he can't win. I told John Gosden straight after he won the Champion Hurdle. He asked me what next and I told him we're going to try and win the Gold Cup. He thought I was talking about the Cheltenham Gold Cup, I wasn't. I was talking about the Ascot one."

Owner Michael Buckley added: "Of course it's a speculative entry, it's got to be. He's been racing all winter and if it was really firm summer ground I doubt he'd show up."

But if there were cut in the ground in the middle of June, Buckley revealed the eight-year-old could run. 

He said: "It could happen then. It's been a dream of mine for a while, but because of one thing or another we haven't got the chance to live that dream. He got sick last year, but you never know this year. We'll see what happens. Nicky is always up for some fun. 

"I know pressure is a privilege but the races Constitution Hill are running in at the moment are very high pressure. If we went to the Gold Cup at Ascot there would be no pressure as we'd have nothing to lose."

Joao Moreira and Satono Reve on their way to victory in the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya KinenCredit: Masakazu Takahashi

Entries for the eight Group 1s at Royal Ascot reveal a broad spectrum of international connections could be targeting the meeting, with challengers emerging form Japan, the US and Australia, as well as 25 from France. 

Crack sprinter Satono Reve – a recent Grade 1 winner who found only the mighty Ka Ying Rising too strong in the Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong on Sunday – is the most eyecatching name among six entries from Japan. 

The Noriyuki Hori-trained six-year-old is being aimed at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, which could also feature exciting Australian import Storm Boy for Aidan O'Brien, as well as established Group 1 performers Kind Of Blue, Montassib and Inisherin. 

Storm Boy, who was only beaten half a length in Australia's leading juvenile race the Golden Rose when trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, also has the option of the 5f King Charles III Stakes, in which Coolmore could also be represented by recent Al Quoz Sprint heroine Believing.

Believing has entries in both the King Charles II Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee StakesCredit: Dubai Racing Club

George Boughey's five-year-old globetrotter is entered in both the all-aged Group 1 sprints, as is Al Quoz third Regional, while last year's King Charles winner Asfoora is the only horse trained in Australia to be entered across the five days. 

Field Of Gold heads the list for the St James's Palace Stakes, in which The Lion In Winter features among the Ballydoyle entries, while the Coronation Stakes could feature a showdown between 1,000 Guineas market leader Desert Flower and leading French-trained fillies Zarigana and Vertical Blue, both trained by Francis Graffard.

Neither Calandagan nor Goliath are among the 26 entries for the Prince of Wales's Stakes, but Graffard could still be represented by Map Of Stars, a runner-up to Sosie in last Sunday's Prix Ganay.Leading domestic contenders include Anmaat  and Economics, winners of the British and Irish Champion Stakes respectively last Autumn. 

Royal Ascot Group 1 racecards

Tuesday June 17

Queen Anne Stakes

King Charles III Stakes

St James's Palace Stakes

Wednesday June 18

Prince of Wales's Stakes

Thursday June 19

Gold Cup

Friday June 20

Commonwealth Cup

Coronation Stakes

Saturday June 21

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

Gold Cup (June 19, Ascot)

Coral: 10-11 Kyprios, 10 Illinois, Jan Brueghel, 12 Courage Mon Ami, Sevenna’s Knight, 14 Sweet William, Tower Of London, 16 Constitution Hill, Dubai Future, Trawlerman, 20 bar

Read more:

Field Of Gold hardens as 2,000 Guineas favourite after Aidan O'Brien rules out his main contender 

Constitution Hill jumps eight fences in final Punchestown prep 

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