2024 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Tips, Odds and Predictions
The first Grade One of the season for hurdlers takes place at Newcastle in last November, with the Fighting Fifth Hurdle up for grabs.
Potential Champion Hurdle hopes often travel up to Newcastle to take part in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. This Grade One was first staged at Newcastle in 1969, and the trip is just over two miles in length.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Day Card
Race
Title
1
Juvenile Hurdle (Class 2) 2m
2
Handicap Chase (Class 4) 2m4f
3
Novices' Hurdle (Class 2) 2m6f
4
Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m
5
Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
6
Maiden Hurdle (Class 4) 2m
7
Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Listed) 3m
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Tips
Once the field has been finalised and the odds have been updated, we'll publish our tips for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
2022 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Result
Position
Name
SP
1st
Constitution Hill
1/4f
2nd
Epatante
4/1
3rd
Not So Sleepy
10/1
Fighting Fifth Hurdle History
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle was created in 1969, with the first running going the way of Falke Walwyn's Mugatpura. The name "Fighting Fifth" pays homage to the 5th Regiment of Foot, part of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
Fred Rimmel's Comedy Of Error's won the Fighting Fifth three years in a row between 1972 and '74. He would also win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1973 and again in '75.
Another former Champion Hurdle, Night Hurse won this Grade One as a four-year-old, before Birds Nest won it three times in the next four years.
Birds Nest's winning run was interrupted by Sea Pigeon, who won at Newcastle in 1978, before retaining his crown in 1980.
County Hurdle winner Floyd won the Fighting Fifth twice in the late 1980s. Kribensis scored at Newcastle in 1989, before going on to claim Champion Hurdle glory at Cheltenham that same season.
Malcolm Jefferson saddled Dato Star before he claimed successive wins at Newcastle in 1998 and '99. Tim Easterby's Barton then scored at the turn of the Millennium, and would later score in the Aintree Hurdle.
Noel Meade's star Harchibald traveled to Newcastle to win the Fighting Fifth twice in the 2000s. Paul Nicholls' Irving also managed to win this race twice, beating Apple's Jade to win back his crown in 2016.
Nicky Henderson celebrated his first victory in the Fighting Fifth when Landing Light scored in 2001. Henderson has since become the most successful trainer in this Grade One, winning with Punjabi, My Tent Or Yours and twice with dual-Champion Hurdle winner, Buveur D'Air.
Buveur D'Air then tried to make it three on the bounce at Newcastle, but suffered a splinter injury when crashing through the final flight, opening the door for Micky Hammond's Cornerstone Lad to claim a shock win.
Epatante made no mistakes when she made her first start after winning the Champion Hurdle in 2020, scooting clear of Sceau Royal after the last to win the Fighting Fifth in imperious fashion.
