Sponsored by leading bookmaker Betfair, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 race is staged at Newcastle racecourse.
Having first been run in 1969 the contest is often seen as an early-season trial for the Champion Hurdle, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Punjabi (2008) and Buveur D'Air (2018) the last horses to win both races in the same season.
The 2017 and 2018 Champion Hurdle winner – Buveur d’Air – landed this race in 2017 before going onto Cheltenham glory again in March 2018, while he also took the prize in 2018 and was second in 2019. 12 months ago it was another Nicky Henderson/JP McManus runner that won the race as Epatante with ease and went onto finish third in the 2021 Champion Hurdle.
Here at TQ, we are on hand as he looks back at past winners and gives you the key trends to look out for ahead of the 2021 renewal – this year run on Saturday 27th November.
Recent Fighting Fifth Hurdle Winners
2020 - EPATANTE (8/11 fav)
2019 – CORNERSTONE LAD (16/1)
2018 – BUVEUR D’AIR (11/8)
2017 – BUVEUR D’AIR (1/6 fav)
2016 – IRVING (6/1)
2015 – IDENTITY THIEF (6/1)
2014 – IRVING (6/4 fav)
2013 – MY TENT OR YOURS (8/11 fav)
2012 – COUNTRYWIDE FLAME (11/4)
2011 – OVERTURN (7/4)
2010 – PEDDLERS CROSS (9/4)
2009 – GO NATIVE (25/1)
2008 – PUNJABI (8/11 fav)
2007 – HARCHIBALD (4/1)
2006 – STRAW BEAR (Evs fav)
2005 – ARCALIS (9/4 fav)
2004 – HARCHIBALD (9/4 jfav)
2003 – THE FRENCH FURZE (25/1)
2002 – INTERSKY FALCON (11/10 fav)
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Betting Trends
19/19 – Won a hurdles race over at least 2m before
17/19 – Won at least a Grade 2 hurdle before
17/19 – Finished in the first two in their latest race
16/19 – Raced in the Champion Hurdle later that same season
16/19 – Won at least 4 times over hurdles before
15/19 – Placed favourites
14/19 – Officially rated 151 or higher
13/19 – Won their last race
11/19 – Ran within the last 6 weeks
11/19 – Placed in the top 6 in the Champion Hurdle later that season
9/19 – Favourites that won (1 joint)
6/19 – Won by an Irish bred horse
5/19 – Raced over hurdles at Newcastle before
5/19 - Trained by Nicky Henderson (5 of last 13)
4/19 – Won by an Irish based yard
3/19 – Won by a previous winner of the race
2/19 - Trained by Paul Nicholls (2 of last 7)
2/19 – Won the Champion Hurdle later that same season (2008 Punjabi, 2018 Buveur d’Air)
The average winning SP in the last 19 runnings is 5/1
Note: The 2008 renewal was staged at Wetherby, and the 2010 race at Newbury
TQ VERDICT: A decent renewal with the current champion - Epatante - in the race, plus the top-rated pair of Sceau Royal and Silver Streak, while the new kid on the block - Monmiral, who is yet to lose a race from 5 starts. Add in Not So Sleepy, who is certainly no back number then we are in for a fascinating race. 12 months ago EPATANTE beat Sceau Royal by 4 ¼ lengths in this race and even though the King horse has done well already this season - winning twice - the fact he’s got to give 7lbs away to the current champion will probably be the difference again. The fly in the ointment for Epatante could be the unbeaten Monmiral, who has risen up the ranks and done nothing wrong. The last time he was out was in April, when winning the Grade One Anniversary 4yo Hurdle at Aintree in easy fashion and looks a horse that could go to the very top. But he’s also got to give away 7lbs to Epatante and with the two horses rated within just a pound of each other then on these terms the weights certainly favourite the Henderson horse. Yes, he’s got a bit to prove, but is still only 7 and goes well fresh, plus the former Champion Hurdler wasn’t disgraced in running third to Honeysuckle in that same race last March.
