2025 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Trends

Sponsored by leading bookmaker BetMGM 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 2024 the Nicky Henderson-trained Sir Gino landed the spoils with ease.

Here at GEEGEEZ, we are on hand as we look back at past winners and highlight the key trends to look out for ahead of the 2025 renewal – this year run on Saturday 29th November.

Recent Fighting Fifth Hurdle Winners

2024 - SIR GINO (6/5 jfav)
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

24/24 – Won a hurdles race over at least 2m before
21/24 – Won at least a Grade 2 hurdle before
20/24 – Finished in the first two in their latest race
20/24 – Won at least 4 times over hurdles before
19/24 – Placed favourites
19/24 – Officially rated 151 or higher
15/24 – Won their last race
13/24 – Ran within the last 6 weeks
12/24 – Favourites that won (1 joint)
8/24 - Trained by Nicky Henderson (8 of last 17) (9 wins in total)
7/24 – Raced over hurdles at Newcastle before
6/24 – Won by an Irish bred horse
5/24 – Won by a previous winner of the race
4/24 – Won by an Irish based yard
2/24 - Trained by Paul Nicholls (2 of last 11)
The average winning SP in the last 24 runnings is 5/1

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

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