Twelve entries have been received for the £120,000 Bowmer + Kirkland Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle Racecourse on Saturday 28 November, including defending champion Golden Ace and a four-strong team from Dan Skelton.
The first Grade 1 hurdle of the British jumps season has attracted a fascinating cast headed by defending champion Golden Ace, recent Grade 2 winner Alexei, exciting young hurdler Mydaddypaddy and The New Lion, who will be bidding to gain compensation for his dramatic exit from last year’s renewal.
Dan Skelton is responsible for four of the 12 entries, with Mydaddypaddy and The New Lion joined by Kateira and last season’s Triumph Hurdle runner-up Maestro Conti.
Mydaddypaddy is one of the most exciting names among the entries after finishing third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The five-year-old was due to begin his season in the Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree last weekend but was withdrawn because of the ground and could now make his first appearance outside novice company at Newcastle.
Stablemate The New Lion was still in front when falling two flights from home in last year’s race. He subsequently returned to winning ways in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham before finishing third behind Lossiemouth in the Unibet Champion Hurdle and second in the Aintree Hurdle at the Grand National meeting on his last start.
Skelton also has the option of running Maestro Conti, who emerged as one of last season’s leading juvenile hurdlers when finishing runner-up in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Kateira completes the champion trainer’s quartet and arrives in good form following a victory at Wetherby at the end of October.
Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace could return to Gosforth Park as she bids to win the Fighting Fifth for the second successive year.
The former Champion Hurdle heroine took advantage of the departures of Constitution Hill and The New Lion to land last year’s renewal under Lorcan Williams and went on to compete at the highest level throughout the spring.
She finished second to Lossiemouth in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in May before beginning her new campaign with a creditable third at Carlisle last month.
That Carlisle contest was won by fellow Fighting Fifth entry Wilful, setting up the possibility of another clash between the pair at Newcastle.
The Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained Wilful enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season, winning the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before finishing third behind Lossiemouth and Golden Ace in Grade 1 company at Punchestown.
He returned with another career-best effort at Carlisle and connections immediately identified the Fighting Fifth as his next possible target.
Joe Tizzard’s Alexei adds further strength to the entries after making the perfect start to his campaign with victory in the Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.
The six-year-old was one of the most progressive hurdlers in Britain last season, rising through the handicap ranks before establishing himself among the leading names in the division.
After victories in the Greatwood and Kingwell Hurdles, Alexei finished fourth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and third in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle.
Harry Fry could be represented by Idaho Sun, who enjoyed an unbeaten novice hurdle campaign before injury brought an early end to his season.
The six-year-old signed off with an impressive success over Mydaddypaddy in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree and is another horse with the potential to make his mark in open company this season.
Last year’s Fighting Fifth third Nemean Lion is entered for Kerry Lee and could return to Newcastle in search of another big performance.
Minella Study, trained by Adam Nicol, also brings strong juvenile form to the entry, while Emma Lavelle could be represented by Indemnity, who finished second in a competitive handicap at Ascot on his latest start.
Irish interest comes in the shape of Andrew Slattery’s Ebony King.
The Bowmer + Kirkland Fighting Fifth Hurdle has long been one of the defining early-season races for Britain’s leading two-mile hurdlers. Its roll of honour includes some of the greatest hurdlers of the modern era, including Sir Gino, Constitution Hill and Buveur d’Air.
Bowmer + Kirkland begins a new multi-year association with the prestigious Grade 1 this season.
BOWMER + KIRKLAND FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE – ENTRIES
Alexei (GER) – Joe Tizzard
Ebony King (IRE) – Andrew Slattery, Ireland
Golden Ace – Jeremy Scott
Idaho Sun (IRE) – Harry Fry
Indemnity (IRE) – Emma Lavelle
Kateira – Dan Skelton
Maestro Conti (FR) – Dan Skelton
Minella Study – Adam Nicol
Mydaddypaddy (IRE) – Dan Skelton
Nemean Lion (GER) – Kerry Lee
The New Lion – Dan Skelton
Wilful (IRE) – Jonjo & AJ O’Neill
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Sam Cone, Arena Racing Company on 07920 404296 or SCone@arenaracingcompany.co.uk
Hugo Barran, JSC Communications on 07786 913215 or hugo@jsccomms.co.uk
