November 26 / 14.10 Newcastle

14.10

Good To Soft

Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £64710.5
  • 2m 0f 46y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV3
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Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

1/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 111- D

Last run: 256 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 170

Form & Verdict
Outstanding novice hurdler last season, with commanding Grade 1 wins in the Tolworth at Sandown (2m, heavy) and the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft); he's the hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle in March and is very hard to oppose on his reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

25th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Constitution Hill

9st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Nicky Henderson

Superstar hurdler on his day and one of the best-known horses in training; having developed serious jumping issues, he was switched to the Flat in Southwell contest (1m4f) last month and showed his class by producing an impressive performance that is backed up by the figures; sets a tall standard en route to Group targets.

1/6

1st

3

(12)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Constitution Hill

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Nicky Henderson

Last jumps campaign started well but ended badly, as he took back-to-back falls at Cheltenham/Aintree and then laboured when he did complete at Punchestown; suffered another tumble on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth in November, which has prompted this switch to the Flat in the hope of restoring confidence levels ahead of a possible bid to regain the Champion Hurdle crown he won in 2023.

7/4

5th

2

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

Constitution Hill

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, overjumped 1st, soon went fourth, headway after 4 out, went third going okay 3 out, nudged along when jumped left and lost ground 2 out, soon no extra

11/10

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1121-3 CD BF

Last run: 210 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Won the Champion Hurdle and Fighting Fifth in 2020, and dead-heated with Not So Sleepy in this race last year when not quite at her very best following a similar break to the one from which she returns today; runner-up in the Champion Hurdle and won Aintree Grade 1 this spring; looks vulnerable against stablemate Constitution Hill but strong chance she'll finish second.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

29th Apr 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 30y

15:50 Punchestown

Epatante

11st 7lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear but in touch with leaders, some headway on inner 2 out, pushed along when bit short of room home turn, soon outpaced and lost position when ridden, went fourth before last, no extra run-in

11/2

4th

6

13th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Epatante

11st 3lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Didn't have to be at her best for Grade 2 mares' win at Doncaster in January and disappointing in the mares' hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival; however, she won this race last year (good to soft) and there's every chance she'll be best of the rest behind stablemate Constitution Hill, which was the case in the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season.

12/1

8th

3

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Epatante

11st 5lb

J: Aidan Coleman

T: Nicky Henderson

Six-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including the 2020 Champion Hurdle; no match for superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth or Christmas Hurdle at the end of 2022 but underlined what a class act she is among her own sex when hacking up in a 2m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January; has won a Grade 1 over this trip; major player.

6/1

Form: 7/156- CD

Last run: 256 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Dead-heated with Epatante in this race last year (good to soft); Epatante wasn't at her very best and this one also has the hugely exciting Constitution Hill to worry about today, but he arrives on the back of a big run on the Flat in the Cesarewitch and can give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(7)

21st Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Not So Sleepy

9st 8lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

Magnificent veteran who has retained a rare zest, demonstrated last year with a front-running Flat win in this race (heavy; stays well) and a second triumph in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle; creditable fourth in his two runs back on the Flat this term, the latest at Epsom on Derby day (1m4f; finished strongly); respected on that and any significant rain over the last day or so will probably help.

14/1

4th

4

(2)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 2

17:15 Epsom

Not So Sleepy

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

12yo who has retained a rare zest, demonstrated last year with a front-running Flat win at Newbury (1m5f, heavy; stays well) and a second triumph in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle; creditable fourth at Newbury (2m) on return to Flat six weeks ago, which he needs to build on; won at this meeting in 2017 and he is not one to pass over lightly seven years on.

20/1

Form: 514-82 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
10yo who won a C&D handicap in March and was a creditable second at Aintree three weeks ago; however, he was tailed off in this race 12 months ago and has bundles to find with today's opponents.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:20 Perth

Voix Du Reve

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Iain Jardine

Grade 1 chase winner when trained by Willie Mullins; dual hurdle winner at up to 2m4f since; best on a sound surface; mostly out of sorts in the past year but is slipping to a dangerous mark.

16/1

5th

6

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:20 Perth

Voix Du Reve

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Iain Jardine

Grade 1 chase winner when trained by Willie Mullins; dual hurdle winner at up to 2m4f since; best on a sound surface; mostly out of sorts in the past year but is slipping to a dangerous mark.

16/1

3rd

5

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Voix Du Reve

11st 6lb

J: Mr Dominic Hislop

T: Iain Jardine

Won this last year and now 8lb lower; market check advised but this 12yo has been below par on his last few runs; needs to turn things around.

25/1

Form: 119-12 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Won four in a row over hurdles (1m7f-2m3f, good-soft) last season, including Grade 2 at Haydock, before finishing down the field in the Champion Hurdle; solid recent efforts on first two chase starts and, although it's hard to envisage him beating Constitution Hill, he's not ruled out each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Tommys Oscar

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

11yo who snapped a losing sequence at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) last month and it was a stronger race than this in which he was fourth of 11 at Haydock (2m4f, good) last Wednesday; every chance he'll be in the mix.

11/2

4th

1

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Tommys Oscar

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Veteran who made his name as a two-miler and the slow pace helped when making his first foray over 3m a successful one at Carlisle (good to soft; effective on good); solid second the run before over 2m4f but a 5lb rise for last time could be troublesome.

12/1

1st

1

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Tommys Oscar

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Smart at around 2m in his prime and was creditable second off today's mark in valuable Musselburgh handicap (2m4f, good to soft) five weeks ago but has stamina to prove on first venture beyond about 2m4f under rules.

9/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.50
Straight Forecast £1.73
Trifecta £3.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Constitution Hill

RP Ratings:

Constitution Hill

TOPSPEED:

Constitution Hill

POSTDATA:

Constitution Hill

LAMBOURN:

Constitution Hill

The Times:

Constitution Hill

Telegraph:

Constitution Hill

The Guardian:

Constitution Hill

Daily Mail:

Constitution Hill

D Express:

Constitution Hill

Daily Mirror:

Constitution Hill

The Star:

Constitution Hill

Daily Record:

Constitution Hill