November 30 / 14.10 Newcastle

14.10

Good

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

  • Prize money: £65492.5
  • 2m 0f 46y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
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BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1/111- D

Last run: 233 days

W: 11st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Easily won the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham (2m1f, good to soft) in January before missing the main event at the Festival due to the stable being under a cloud; made it 4-4 in the 4yo Grade 1 at Aintree (2m1f, soft) in April; unraced on good ground; the form of his last two wins reads extremely well and his leading yard has won this eight times; top prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Sir Gino

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Appears to handle any ground; impressive on chase debut prior to picking up a serious injury; returned from 12-month absence to readily justify favouritism and clock a very fast time in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day for a third Grade 1 success, proving that he's recovered well from the setback and confirming that he's a hugely exciting jumps horse who is still a potential champion in the making; rising star who remains unbeaten (7-7).

2/5

12/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 1215-1 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton (2m, soft) in February; well beaten by Mystical Power in Aintree Grade 1 next time but reappeared with a win in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft); faces a tough task against the big two but this progressive 6yo could be best of the rest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

Form: 4/1-22 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Better than ever on the Flat and over hurdles this year, most recently finishing second in a Listed hurdle at Kempton (2m, good); however, he was no match for the winner and is up against it this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:03 Kelso

Kihavah

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Very useful dual-purpose performer; runner-up in Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen last summer and arrives on the back of a good effort on the Flat at Newmarket three weeks ago; very much one to consider back in this sphere.

11/4

8th

2

(6)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Newmarket

Kihavah

9st 7lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Saw daylight all too late when strong-finishing fifth in this race last year (much better than his 2024 performance in it); Meydan this January/February did not yield much (stiff tasks) but he's now 4lb lower than this time last year, too well handicapped to be ruled out; rare run in cheekpieces.

10/1

3

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:50 Kempton

Kihavah

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Useful on Flat and over hurdles; good second in notable summer handicap at Market Rasen on last attempt in this sphere; filled the same position, albeit comfortably beaten by Rubaud on same terms, in this contest 12 months ago; needs a personal best to go one better.

6/1

Form: 21P10- D

Last run: 263 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Made it 2-4 over hurdles (2m, good/good to soft) when easily winning Huntingdon novice; down the field in the Supreme at Cheltenham in March on final run for Ben Pauling and has plenty to prove at this level, but he's unexposed and still has potential; frame possibilities on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:20 Cartmel

Tellherthename

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Both wins came at Huntingdon when trained by Ben Pauling; made his stable debut in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, when not beaten far, and he wasn't disgraced when hooded and held up out the back in the Swinton at Haydock (favourite) two weeks ago; this will feel like a drop in the ocean in comparison and, although turned over at a short price last October in his only chase, he should make light work of these two rivals on his return to fences.

1/3

8th

6

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Tellherthename

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced for his age; caught the eye in no uncertain terms when twelfth of 23 in the County at Cheltenham on first start for current yard, travelling smoothly but short of room in straight and finishing full of running; very best efforts for previous stables came on good ground and he missed the Scottish Champion when the rain came; still unexposed and a fascinating contender in a first-time hood.

3/1

Form: 1-1431 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
The drop back in trip didn't look an obvious plus at Wetherby (2m, good) four weeks ago but she won that Listed mares' hurdle by 10l; faces a tough assignment here against Mystical Power and Sir Gino but she could make the first three with her 7lb mares' allowance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Take No Chances

11st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Not at the top of her game in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month but this sort of trip may be her optimum; neck second to Strong Leader at Wetherby (3m, good) in November and creditable third behind Impose Toi and Strong Leader in another Grade 2 at Newbury (3m, soft) later that month; ran well here 12 months ago; each-way claims if back on song.

25/1

4th

6

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Take No Chances

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won Grade 2 mares' event at Ascot before finishing third to Lossiemouth in this and the Aintree Hurdle (Wodhooh 8l ahead in second) last spring; has slightly bettered those RPRs in defeat on all four outings this season and she's an each-way player again.

9/1

3rd

3

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Take No Chances

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Ascot (1m7f, good) last January and she's looked better than ever when running really well in defeat against males in Grade 2s at Wetherby (3m, good) and Newbury (3m, soft) on last two starts; she'll be fine now back down in trip and may well be in the mix.

3/1

Form: 1121-1 D

Last run: 214 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Sole defeat came when second in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in March and he won Grade 1 novice events at Aintree (2m, soft) and Punchestown (2m, yielding) the next twice; has also won on good ground; represents the all-conquering Willie Mullins; leading claims on his return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Mystical Power

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Second in last year's Supreme Novices' (2m) before 2m Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; while he takes a big step up in trip today, his dam Annie Power was second in this race and last term's promise isn't forgotten; however, he's been extremely lacklustre in 2m Grade 1s the last twice.

16/1

6th

4

29th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:30 Leopardstown

Mystical Power

11st 12lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

Sole defeat last season when second in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham, made amends with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; never going well on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth; likely second-best of Mullins squad.

12/1

OUR TIP

200/1

Form: 000-P4 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Six-time hurdle winner but he's likely to be outclassed today even if bouncing back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:20 Kelso

Benson

12st 1lb

J: William Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

Last of his six wins over hurdles was off a 25lb higher mark at Musselburgh in January 2024 (2m4f, soft); mainly disappointing since then, including when tried over fences; best watched for now.

14/1

9

14th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

18:28 Hexham

Benson

10st 12lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Sandy Thomson

One-time very useful handicapper; nothing like as good these days and has finished last on last two starts, latest a four-runner C&D handicap last month; very well handicapped (dropped a further 4lb for his run last time so now 22lb below last winning mark); plenty to prove at present.

14/1

Non-runners

Brentford Hope, Colonel Mustard

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.60
Straight Forecast £15.80
Tricast £216.70
Trifecta £69.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sir Gino

RP RATINGS:

Mystical Power

TOPSPEED:

Take No Chances

The Times:

Kihavah

The Guardian:

Mystical Power

Daily Mail:

Mystical Power

D Express:

Mystical Power

Daily Record:

Mystical Power

LAMBOURN:

Sir Gino

Telegraph:

Sir Gino

Daily Mirror:

Sir Gino

The Sun:

Sir Gino

The Star:

Sir Gino

POSTDATA:

Take No Chances