Constitution River

Constitution River burst onto the scene at Galway in July 2025, and even then, jockey Wayne Lordan was quick to flag that there was far more to come. The horse was green and distracted — looking around, taking in the scenery rather than concentrating on racing — and still won. That kind of raw ability, winning before the brain has fully caught up with the body, is what gets trainers excited. Lordan spoke immediately about the horse staying longer distances, and flagged that a step up from a mile to a mile and two furlongs could come before the year was out.

That improvement has arrived on schedule. Constitution River has since reeled off three wins in a row, the latest coming at Chester just this week — and the team around him, trained by Aidan O'Brien out of Cashel in County Tipperary, have been vocal about what they see. O'Brien described him as straightforward and noted how well he quickened when asked at the Curragh, which is the kind of finishing kick that wins big races. He also mentioned the French Derby as a possible route, which tells you everything about how seriously this horse is being taken. The French Derby is one of the most prestigious races in European racing for three-year-olds — you do not casually throw that name around.

The wider context adds further colour. O'Brien's yard has sent out 144 winners already this season — a remarkable volume that reflects an operation running at full tilt — and yet Constitution River is being spoken about in terms that suggest he sits towards the top of the pile. One mishap disrupted his momentum last season after he won the Futurity at the Curragh, a significant early marker for a young horse. He has come back from that setback and picked up exactly where he left off, arguably in better shape than before. Three wins from four career races, a current streak of three, and a trainer already plotting a path through the biggest spring races in Europe — Constitution River is a horse worth paying close attention to right now.