The Fighting Fifth Hurdle headlines at Newcastle on Saturday and it’s the first time that we are treated to seeing the best horse in training in Britain, Constitution Hill.
Charlie Sharp provides his analysis on the big race as well as some other selections at Newcastle’s meeting, where they race from 11.35-3.05, with the Fighting Fifth Hurdle due off at 1.55.
1.55 – Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)
A field of just five will battle for Newcastle’s Grade 1 Hurdle and it is very exciting to see the return of Champion Hurdle-winning Constitution Hill.
The Nicky Henderson-trained superstar is unbeaten in all seven of his races under rules and has a combined winning distance of 89 lengths. The price for him to remain unbeaten this season (as long as he is running at least three times) is as short as even money.
It is with his complete dominance over his competitors in mind that I will be focusing more on the other runners in the race, to make up the tricast for this race
You Wear It Well, who beat Luccia on reappearance this season is one of two mares in the race and is 13lb inferior in the ratings to the Harry Fry-trained Love Envoi, who finished second behind Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival and was four lengths clear of the third.
She also has a stunning record when returning off a break of more than 50 days which reads 1112, with the second being in the Mares’ Hurdle as discussed above.
Not So Sleepy was the winner of this race in 2021 when finishing in a dead-heat in a snow-covered Newcastle track. The eleven-year-old’s front running style is one that should be no problem for Constitution Hill to deal with, as in the two races they have run against each other, Hughie Morrison’s star has been thumped by a collective 46 lengths.
Benson makes up the field and reverts back to hurdles after losing on his chasing debut back in October at Carlisle.
SELECTION: 1ST CONSITUTION HILL, 2ND LOVE ENVOI, 3RD YOU WEAR IT WELL
3.05 - Rehearsal Handicap Chase (2m7½f)
Last week should have seen the return of Shishkin in the 1965 Chase, until he refused to run at the flag drop. Nicky Henderson has decided that he is happy to run his superstar here, in a Premier Handicap and having to carry the weight of 12st on his seasonal reappearance.
The six-time Grade 1 winner is 21lb higher than his closest competitor is rated in the field, although, being a handicap, it means that Ga Law will run off 10st 7lb. In this year’s RyanAir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Ga Law was just seven lengths off Shishkin, who finished second on the day.
The Jamie-Snowden trained gelding made his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle and it is clear to see that it was a pipe opener, potentially with this race in mind. Having run well in multiple Graded races, it seems like The Footie Partnership believe that they own a horse that can win a handicap with a valuable pot.
The rest of the field are running from out of the weights, due to the high rating Shishkin has here, which means that they would have to find an extra few pounds in their performance. The other runners include the Topham winner Bill Baxter and Edinburgh Gin Chase Handicap winner Elvis Mail.
