The Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is set for deeply informative renewal. With nine going to post to ensure win and each-way battles, Joe Napier previews the race with his verdict.
The immensely popular veteran Not So Sleepy may have been the outsider of four in 2023’s rearranged renewal, but he proved much the best with a clear victory.
SIR GINO
(Nicky Henderson/Nico De Boinville)
It is a useful position for Nicky Henderson to be in that his supersub here is unbeaten and has the potential to tackle the 2m hurdling division by storm. Sir Gino was almost certainly the best juvenile hurdler by some distance last term, with any doubt only arising because he was forced to skip the Cheltenham Festival along with the majority of his stablemates.
However, his clear-cut success in Aintree’s Grade 1 Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle saw him defeat Kargese, the filly of Willie Mullins who would go on to win the top level event at Punchestown. He may not be Constitution Hill, and it would be wise to avoid the evidence of their mutual gallop at Newbury to enhance his claims, but his profile is bursting with potential and he may be rarely well-equipped for his age to make the leap into open company.
MYSTICAL POWER
(Willie Mullins/Mark Walsh)
But for the Cheltenham Hill being so devilishly testing, Mystical Power may be undefeated too. Six starts under rules, encompassing one bumper and five hurdles races, have seen him win five, losing out only in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to the stouter stayer Slade Steel. His evident talent is fulfilling a prophecy in many respects, being the son of both Galileo and Annie Power.
Most promising of all is that he improved throughout the season, overturning Cheltenham form readily at Punchestown to conclude his season, having also held off regular rival Firefox at Aintree in between. His form did not decline with regular racing, and he can clearly perform well up to scratch when fresh. As a five-year-old, he may also have the edge on Sir Gino in terms of taking his efforts to the next level.
BRENTFORD HOPE
(Harry Derham/Paul O’Brien)
An enigmatic former Derby hopeful, Brentford Hope taking to hurdles may have been a surprise at first, but he has rapidly improved even further in the last year. He won two of his six starts when a novice, but having started last term on a mark of 122, he is now rated 148 after winning handicaps at Newbury, Newcastle and Haydock, and finishing runner-up twice, including when foraying across to Punchestown.
He looked the winner for much of his return before settling for second behind Rubaud at Wincanton. However, he was in receipt of 6lb and that rival would himself be third favourite her well behind the top two. Further improvement is necessary and there does not look enough rain in the forecast to enhance his chances.
LUMP SUM
(Sam Thomas/Dylan Johnston)
A winner of five of his eight rules starts, Lump Sum does know how to get his head in front when it matters. He largely fulfilled his potential as a novice last term, winning a Grade 2 at Kempton having pushed Jeriko Du Reponet all the way at Doncaster, before ultimately being put in his place at Aintree behind Mystical Power.
He returned in fine fettle, defeating a stablemate at Ffos Las who won at Haydock last weekend. A 9lb rise from that handicap now puts him in a place where he will be towards the top of the weights in such company, but short of what is required here, for all he may have a chance of placing.
THE FIELD
The uber consistent Colonel Mustard returns just a week after finishing third in the Ascot Hurdle. Having travelled like the winner there, he once again failed to win, but he has each-way claims again here if remaining in the same form.
Kihavah is another recent runner-up to Rubaud, but was beaten further than Brentford Hope was receiving the same weight, though the mare Take No Chances won in good style against her own sex at Wetherby. Even though she stays much further, she has proved adaptable down in trip.
Tellherthename was at his best on good ground last season, but the change of stable makes this more of a watching brief for him for now. On recent form, Benson will be outclassed.
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VERDICT
There is no temptation to see beyond the top two in the market, with both having the potential to develop into genuine Champion Hurdle contenders. Preference is for MYSTICAL POWER over Sir Gino with his extra year of age potentially equipping him better to face his younger challenger. His form only improved as last season went on and this has been the prescribed target. That is not the case for Sir Gino, who would have been going chasing but for Constitution Hill’s continued ill health, although he was the best of the juvenile hurdlers last term and may well be more prepared for this assignment than most of his tender years would be. The mare Take No Chances might complete the frame.
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