The Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle launched Sir Gino to stardom in some style a year ago and will likely set the winner on a championship path again in 2025. A stellar quintet have been declared for Newcastle’s premiership jumps race and we run you through all of the key info and trends, as well as giving our verdict.
2025 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Racecard
Previews of this year’s Fighting Fifth will centre on whether Constitution Hill can rediscover his sparkling best. Falls at Cheltenham and Aintree preceded a dismal effort at Punchestown, but there is confidence from Nicky Henderson that he has the eight-year-old back where he wants. He will have to return to his best, because The New Lion is unbeaten on a firmly upward trajectory after winning last year’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He could easily revel in the drop back to 2m where Anzadam has already proven himself for Willie Mullins, albeit in just two starts. He is a livewire Irish raider who could be anything, while mentioning Golden Ace fourth seems harsh as she is the defending Champion Hurdler who more than held her own behind State Man at Punchestown too. Nemean Lion was supplemented for this by connections, but looks to have an uphill task given the quality against her.
| Number | Horse | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Anzadam | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2 | Constitution Hill | Nicky Henderson | Nico De Boinville |
| 3 | Nemean Lion | Kerry Lee | Conor O’Farrell |
| 4 | The New Lion | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
| 5 | Golden Ace | Jeremy Scott | Lorcan Williams |
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Trends
- 7 of the last 9 winners have been aged 7 or below
- Favourites have been successful in five of the last eight runnings, though one dead-heated
- Nicky Henderson has claimed six of the last eight renewals
- Nine of the last ten winners were running for the first time that season
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Tips
A potentially sensational renewal of the Fighting Fifth. A 100% Constitution Hill would still blow these away, but trusting he can find those levels again is a very risky proposition, while the fact Anzadam runs here is, in itself, a slight concern given the alternative options he had, as well as the disappointing effort of stablemate Mystical Power in this 12 months ago. Tallying those in the negatives chart leaves THE NEW LION, who will have to prove himself back in trip here, but looked a star in the making when winning a highly competitive renewal of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle in March. He should possess the requisite speed to be a Champion Hurdle contender. Given there are plausible doubts about the big three in the market, Golden Ace is not ruled out either if bouncing back from her lifeless return.
- The New Lion
- Anzadam
- Constitution Hill
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