Steve Ryder looks at the declared runners, previous race trends, and provides his betting tip for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 run over 2m½f at Newcastle. This race will take place at 2:00 on Saturday 29th November this year.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Previous Winners, Trends & Stats
Both Comedy Of Errors (1972-1974) and Birds Nest (1976, 1977 & 1979) won this race three times and the likes of Harchibald (2004 & 2007), Buveur d’Air (2017 & 2018), Epatante (2020 & 2021) and Not So Sleepy (2021 & 2023) all won this multiple times.
• 11 of the previous 13 winners had at least four victories over hurdles
• 11 of the previous 13 winners were rated 151 or higher
• 9 of the previous 13 winners were aged between 5 and 7
• 9 of the previous 13 winners were making their reappearance
• 8 of the previous 13 winners won on their previous start
• 8 of the previous 13 winners had already won a Grade 1 race
Who is the betting favourite for the 2025 Fighting Fifth Hurdle?
At the time of writing, The New Lion (6/4) and Constitution Hill (7/4) are jostling for market favouritism. Willie Mullins' Anzadam is their closest competitor in the market at 3/1.
| Horse | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| The New Lion | 6/4 | bet365 |
| Constitution Hill | 7/4 | William Hill |
| Anzadam | 3/1 | William Hill |
| Golden Ace | 20/1 | bet365 |
| Nemean Lion | 66/1 | William Hill |
Odds last updated at 14:45, Monday 24th November.
Bally Bet
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Runners Guide
ANZADAM
Unexposed five-year-old who is unbeaten in his four career starts over hurdles. He won the Grade 3 WillowWarm Hurdle on his stable debut by 6 ½ lengths last season before justifying short odds of 1/10 to win the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle in January. He missed the remainder of the season but is a fascinating contender here on his reappearance.
CONSTITUTION HILL
Represents the Nicky Henderson stable who have won this race a record nine times including when winning it himself in 2022. Lost his unbeaten record over hurdles when falling in the Champion Hurdle last season and fell again at Aintree on his next start. A below par effort at Punchestown followed and he faces question marks on his reappearance this season off the back of those runs.
NEMEAN LION
Kerry Lee trained eight-year-old who was supplemented for £2430 on Monday morning. He completed a hat-trick of wins last season including a Grade 2 victory in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell in February. He was pulled up in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and was a NR in the Ascot Hurdle on Saturday on account of the ground.
THE NEW LION
Unbeaten in his five career starts including two Grade 1 victories last season. The six-year-old was purchased by JP McManus after his victory in the Challow Hurdle prior to winning the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival over 2m5f. He now needs to reproduce that form over this 2 mile trip to justify his position as Champion Hurdle favourite.
GOLDEN ACE
Reigning Champion Hurdler who ran with credit when 2nd behind State Man and in front of Constitution Hill at Punchestown on her final start last season. The Jeremy Scott trained mare scoped dirty when 2nd in a match race with Kateira at Wetherby on her reappearance but the yard remain 0/35 so far this season and without a winner over jumps for 217 days.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Trainers & Jockeys To Watch
Nicky Henderson has won this race a record nine times with Landing Light (2001), Punjabi (2008), My Tent Or Yours (2013), Buveur d'Air (2017 & 2018), Epatante (2020 & 2021), Constitution Hill (2022) and Sir Gino (2024).
Nico De Boinville is the has won this race twice in recent years with Constitution Hil (2022) and Sir Gino (2024).
Betting Insights for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle
Dan and Harry Skelton won the Betfair Chase last weekend with Grey Dawning and hopefully THE NEW LION (best priced at 6/4) can provide them with another Grade 1 victory in this race. Although he faces slight question marks about this 2 mile trip, he looks deserving of his rating of 159 following his Cheltenham Festival victory last season.
Both Golden Ace and Nemean Lion are likely to be outclassed, Anzadam has been re-routed here from the Morgiana Hurdle which is a slight worry and Constitution Hill faces even more question marks based on how his season ended at the spring festivals.
The New Lion is the only horse who fits all six of the trends highlighted and looks the one to beat as a result.
Oddschecker Data: Over the past 48 hours on Oddschecker, 43% of bets are backing Constitution Hill compared to 27% for the market favourite, The New Lion. 3/1 third-favourite, Anzadam, has 19% of the bet share.
