Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 1 June 2026

Experienced observers of form generally consider that if horses finish in a bunch then they cannot all be world-beaters, regardless of the class of race.

However I’m pretty sure this will not apply to yesterday’s Prix du Jockey Club, in which Constitution River beat his stable-companions Hawk Mountain and Montreal by three-quarters of a length and a head.

I can’t recall Ryan Moore ever talking in such glowing terms about a horse and I’m going back to his early years with Sir Michael Stoute. That needs to be qualified by the fact that he has considerably more time for the overseas press than he does for any of the British media, but I’ve never heard him describe a horse as being, among other things, “quite special” and “quite rare.”

Tactically the colt proved mature beyond his years.

Drawn wide in stall 15 of 16, he could have been forgiven for being keen as Ryan kept him wide of the field for the first furlong before angling in behind his two stablemates.

There was a moment turning for home when his rider started to nudge him along, but he then showed that he had the tenacity and track-craft to edge ahead in the final furlong and pass the post with a little in hand.

There are a few observations to make regarding his future.

The first relates to his likely optimum trip. He is by the late Wootton Bassett out of the first foal of a maiden full sister to Wonderful Tonight, the winner of six races including the 1m 6f Group 1 Prix de Royallieu and the Group 1 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. She was very progressive and relished hock-deep ground.

Mindful of future stallion duties, Aidan and the ‘lads’ will probably want Constitution River to win at Group 1 level over ten furlongs or, judging by the way the jockey was talking, even over a mile.

That explains his current position as a general joint-favourite with Ombudsman for the Coral-Eclipse and later on they will almost certainly have their eyes on the Irish Champion Stakes … a race they love.

Yet the way he settled and that stout distaff line suggests to me that he could excel at a mile and a half.

The turn of foot he showed at Chester had not been evident in his three runs at two and, to my eyes, we did not see it at Chantilly on Sunday either.

There are, of course, other cards to play, most notably at Epsom on Saturday. Gstaad and Minnie Hauk are likely contenders over a mile and a quarter but, given the high esteem in which he is held by Ryan Moore, I wonder if the Arc could come into the reckoning for Constitution River?

Ryan says the colt can improve, has shown that he is adaptable tactically and, referring back to his pedigree, he is bred to handle soft ground, should that we get that at Longchamp in October. Then, of course, there are opportunities at the Breeders’ Cup.

The team at Ballydoyle have never shied away from a challenge and, if this is the horse that Ryan clearly thinks he is, then the Arc would surely be the prize they would dearly love to win.

Of the others, I suggested Montreal and A Boy Named Susie as each-way options and both ran very well.

Montreal was possibly ridden with pace-making duties uppermost in mind but A Boy Named Susie ran a stormer, last but one turning for home and passing all bar the first three to finish fourth. He may have been flattered by the strong pace … it was the second fastest running since the distance was changed in 2005 … but Oisin Murphy, who had ridden him at Leopardstown in April, advised those close to him that the colt would go close.

This most intriguing of seasons takes another leap forward at Epsom this weekend … my favourite meeting of the year.

As in the past I’ll be passing on news for a couple of horses that have been laid out for handicaps on the undercard. With rain around, conditions should be ideal.

Bye for now

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