Newcastle racecourse hosts its showpiece event of the season, the Gr1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (16h10) on Saturday afternoon.
With Brentford Hope withdrawn, seven runners will jump away from the two-mile start on ground likely to remain good.
Newcastle Racecourse will host the Gr1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday (Pic – Newcastle Racecourse on FB)
The absence of the unbeaten 2022 winner Constitution Hill is undoubtedly a blow, but racegoers are still set for a treat with the clash between his stablemate Sir Gino and Irish raider Mystical Power an intriguing puzzle to solve.
Four-year-old Sir Gino missed the Triumph Hurdle last term but has looked every inch a top-class prospect in winning his other three starts for Nicky Henderson, including a Group 1 success at Aintree.
His much-viewed gallop when narrowly edging Constitution Hill at Newbury recently only adds to his appeal, and he looks a worthy stable replacement to give Nicky Henderson a record ninth success in the race.
His main danger is the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old Mystical Power. A son of the mighty mare Annie Power, he has won five of his six starts and was runner-up in the Supreme Novice at Cheltenham. He will enjoy the fast ground.
There is only 2lb between the pair on official ratings and they are hard to split with a narrow preference for Sir Gino.
On Sunday, Fairyhouse in Ireland takes centre stage with the running of the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle (16h40).
The Willie Mullins trained Lossiemouth makes her much anticipated reappearance in the two-and-a-half-mile Group 1 where she will clash with the top-class Teahupoo from the inform Gordon Eliott yard.
With just four runners entered it looks a match with Teahupoo bidding to become the fifth triple winner of this famous race and join amongst others the great Honeysuckle who competed the feat between 2019 and 2021.
Earlier on the card, Firefox should provide Elliott with the first leg of a winning double in the Gr1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (16h05). An easy winner of a chase earlier this month, this highly rated novice hurdler from last season holds the notable scalp of champion novice Ballyburn when victorious here last season.
His main threat looks to be the Henry de Bromhead trained Heat Wood who easily won a listed chase at Wexford last month.
