2024 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Trends

Sponsored by leading bookmaker Betfair, the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth hurdle is staged at Newcastle racecourse.

Having first been run in 1969 the contest is often seen as an early-season trial for the Champion Hurdle, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Punjabi (2008) and Buveur D'Air (2018) the last horses to win both races in the same season.

The 2017 and 2018 Champion Hurdle winner – Buveur d’Air – landed this race in 2017 before going onto Cheltenham glory again in March 2018, while he also took the prize in 2018 and was second in 2019.

In 2022 we saw the exciting Constitution Hill romp to victory by 12 lengths - beating the two-time past winner Epatante, before going onto win the Champion Hurdle later that season. While last season in 2023 the race was run at Sandown in early December, with the original conest called off at Newcastle - Not So Sleepy won the race for a second time.

Here at GEEGEEZ, we are on hand as he looks back at past winners and gives you the key trends to look out for ahead of the 2024 renewal – this year run on Saturday 30th November.

Recent Fighting Fifth Hurdle Winners

2023 - NOT SO SLEEPY (9/1)
2022 – CONSTITUTION HILL (1/4 fav)
2021 – EPATANTE (11/8) / NOT SO SLEEPY (18/1), Dead heat
2020 - EPATANTE (8/11 fav)
2019 – CORNERSTONE LAD (16/1)
2018 – BUVEUR D’AIR (11/8)
2017 – BUVEUR D’AIR (1/6 fav)
2016 – IRVING (6/1)
2015 – IDENTITY THIEF (6/1)
2014 – IRVING (6/4 fav)
2013 – MY TENT OR YOURS (8/11 fav)
2012 – COUNTRYWIDE FLAME (11/4)
2011 – OVERTURN (7/4)
2010 – PEDDLERS CROSS (9/4)
2009 – GO NATIVE (25/1)
2008 – PUNJABI (8/11 fav)
2007 – HARCHIBALD (4/1)
2006 – STRAW BEAR (Evs fav)
2005 – ARCALIS (9/4 fav)
2004 – HARCHIBALD (9/4 jfav)
2003 – THE FRENCH FURZE (25/1)
2002 – INTERSKY FALCON (11/10 fav)

Note: The 2023 running was staged at Sandown Park.

Fighting Fifth Hurdle Betting Trends & Stats

23/23 – Won a hurdles race over at least 2m before
20/23 – Won at least a Grade 2 hurdle before
19/ 23 – Finished in the first two in their latest race
19/23 – Won at least 4 times over hurdles before
18/23 – Placed favourites
18/23 – Officially rated 151 or higher
14/23 – Won their last race
13/23 – Ran within the last 6 weeks
11/23 – Favourites that won (1 joint)
7/23 – Raced over hurdles at Newcastle before
7/23 - Trained by Nicky Henderson (7 of last 16) (8 wins in total)
6/23 – Won by an Irish bred horse
5/24 – Won by a previous winner of the race
4/23 – Won by an Irish based yard
2/23 - Trained by Paul Nicholls (2 of last 10)
The average winning SP in the last 23 runnings is 11/2

Note: The 2008 renewal was staged at Wetherby, and the 2010 race at Newbury

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