Tag Archive for: Fighting Fifth

Mystical Power and Sir Gino set for ‘interesting and informative’ clash

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Willie Mullins expects to have a clearer idea of where Mystical Power fits in his formidable squad of hurdlers after he takes on Sir Gino in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

While the absence of the sport’s pre-eminent star Constitution Hill is undoubtedly disappointing, his defection has at least thrown up a mouthwatering clash between two rising stars.

Mystical Power is regally-bred as a son of the great Galileo out of brilliant racemare Annie Power and has won four of his five starts over obstacles to date, his only defeat coming at the hands of Slade Steel when filling the runner-up spot in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

The five-year-old, who is owned by the powerhouse trio of John Magnier, JP McManus and Rich Ricci – and will this season carry the colours of the latter – went on to win Grade Ones at Aintree and Punchestown in the spring and will on Saturday bid to provide Mullins with his first ever Fighting Fifth success.

“It’s funny how the race cuts up, I thought Mystical Power would be about 10 or 12lb out on ratings, but I think he’s now 2lb well-in with Sir Gino on last year’s juvenile ratings,” said the Irish and British champion trainer. “It will be a very interesting and informative race.

“I had thought about running Mystical Power over fences, as he’s a hell of a jumper over a fence, we’ve schooled him a couple of times. I said so to Rich and JP, that if this hurdling lark doesn’t go well for him, he can go novice chasing, but that is looking like next year now at this stage of the season.

“I think I’m right in saying he could be the best Galileo over fences! There’s only been a few but he’ll vie for that slot if he ever goes chasing.

“He’s so sharp – he’s a two-miler. We didn’t run on the Flat but what would he be – maybe he could be a Gold Cup horse. We’ve thought about it, but at the moment we’re just thinking of jumping.”

Mystical Power kicked off his career in minor events at Ballinrobe and Galway last year, which is perhaps a measure of the regard in which he was held at the time.

Mullins added: “He surprised us a fair bit. We didn’t run him at two or three because he wasn’t good enough.

“We shouldn’t be surprised because his mother was a late developer. Jim Bolger trained her and he never ran her at two or three, so it tells me she wasn’t catching his eye either.

“Quevega was the same, her breeder told me she’d be slow to mature. We’re lucky we have people who are not afraid to wait and maybe get the best out of them.”

Sir Gino on his way to victory at Aintree
Sir Gino on his way to victory at Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA)

Having won on his only start in France, Sir Gino quickly established himself as one of the stars of the juvenile hurdling division after joining Nicky Henderson last season.

He obliged on his Kempton introduction before blitzing Burdett Road on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham – and while he missed the Triumph Hurdle in March, he signed off with a top-level victory at Aintree.

The four-year-old was all set to embark on a career over fences this autumn, but the latest setback suffered by Constitution Hill prompted the Seven Barrows handler to shuffle his pack.

Sir Gino clearly worked better than his illustrious stablemate in a public gallop at Newbury last week and Henderson does not see the late change of plan as a major issue.

He told Unibet: “As has been very well publicised, this was not the original plan, because we were all set to go chasing, which we could still easily do, but for the time being this is where he is and I’ve been very happy with his preparation.

“He schooled over hurdles on Tuesday and was very good. I must admit this is a very strong renewal of the Fighting Fifth, and Mystical Power has looked very good, but we have always held Sir Gino in extremely high regard and we will at least have a much clearer idea of which way his season might go after this.”

Other contenders include the Sam Thomas-trained Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sum and Dan Skelton’s mare Take No Chances, but Harry Derham has declared Brentford Hope a non-runner on account of unsuitable ground.

Mystical Power on course for Sir Gino Fighting Fifth clash

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Mystical Power is set to take on Sir Gino in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

With Constitution Hill ruled out, Nicky Henderson has shuffled his pack and confirmed that Sir Gino – who was set to embark on a career over fences – will instead make the trip north to Gosforth Park.

The Seven Barrows handler has saddled a record eight winners of the Grade One contest, including claiming five of the last seven renewals, with My Tent Or Yours, Buveur D’Air and Epatante all on the roll of honour.

Sir Gino will bid to extend Nicky Henderson's excellent record in the Fighting Fifth
Sir Gino will bid to extend Nicky Henderson’s excellent record in the Fighting Fifth (Mike Egerton/PA)

The biggest threat to last season’s star juvenile hurdler Sir Gino appears to be the Willie Mullins-trained Mystical Power, who will bid to become the first Irish-trained winner since Identity Thief nine years ago.

Owned in partnership by JP McManus, John Magnier and Rich Ricci, the son of Galileo out of the brilliant racemare Annie Power won four of his five novice starts last term, rounding off his campaign with back-to-back Grade One wins at Aintree and Punchestown.

Having sidestepped a strong renewal of the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last weekend, Mystical Power is being readied for a trip across the Irish Sea.

Frank Berry, McManus’ racing manager, said: “That’s the plan, Willie is very happy with him, so the plan, all being well, is to go to Newcastle.

“The Morgiana looked very hot, so this was another option for him and he goes there in nice form.”

On Sir Gino stepping in to replace the sidelined Constitution Hill, Berry added: “No matter who drops out, there’s always one there.

“It’ll be a good race, but we’re looking forward to getting our horse out.”

Henderson expects to have a clearer idea of what direction Sir Gino will take for the rest of the season after Saturday, admitting that if he were to emerge triumphant, he could end up having to clash with Constitution Hill, who he hopes will be back on track in time to contest the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

“You’re trying to avoid clashes until they’re absolutely necessary, let’s just see what happens on Saturday,” the trainer told Racing TV at Kempton on Monday.

“Mystical Power is a big protagonist in this category, so it’s going to be very interesting.

“Sir Gino is grand. He had a spin this morning, Nico came and rode him and that went well.

“We’ll school him over hurdles on Wednesday I would think. He’s just got to jump four hurdles and he’s an intelligent horse, so I’m sure he’ll get the hang of what we’re doing, even if we’re trying to confuse him!”

Lump Sum in action at Kempton
Lump Sum in action at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

Mystical Power is one of two Irish contenders, with Lorna Fowler giving Colonel Mustard the option of turning out quickly after finishing third in the Ascot Hurdle.

Harry Derham has confirmed the Elite Hurdle runner-up Brentford Hope, while Welsh Champion Hurdle victor Lump Sum could represent the in-form Sam Thomas.

Salver would be an interesting contender for Gary and Josh Moore, but would need rain having missed the Ascot Hurdle on Saturday on account of unsuitable ground.

Benson (Sandy Thomson), Kihavah (Adrian Keatley), Nemean Lion (Kerry Lee), Tellherthename (Jonjo and AJ O’Neill) and Take No Chances (Dan Skelton) complete the 11 acceptors.

Love Envoi team expecting more to come after Fighting Fifth second

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Love Envoi is pencilled in for a Sandown return after her second-placed performance in the relocated Fighting Fifth on Saturday.

The seven-year-old was back in action after 224 days off the track, her final run of last season being a beaten effort at Punchestown where she picked up an injury.

Prior to that she was enjoying a very successful campaign, however, winning twice at Sandown before being finding just the great Honeysuckle too good in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The complexion of the Fighting Fifth changed twice before the race, firstly because of the relocation of the contest from Newcastle to Sandown and secondly because of the withdrawal of leading hurdler Constitution Hill.

Without Nicky Henderson’s champion in the line-up the Harry Fry-trained Love Envoi started at 6-4 with only Jamie Snowden’s You Wear It Well more fancied as the 5-4 favourite.

Harry Fry's Love Envoi
Harry Fry’s Love Envoi (Steven Paston/PA)

Love Envoi was held up in last place in the early stages of the race and did not jump fluently to start with, but as the contest unfolded she stayed on to chase home Hughie Morrison’s veteran Not So Sleepy, who was an eight-length winner at 9-1.

The runner-up is owned by Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates and the former jockey was not disheartened by the performance after a significant lay-off for the mare.

“She’s fine, she did well to finish second but she was a bit slow and ring rusty early on,” he said.

“Then when she got into it she actually ran a good race in the end.

“The first two she jumped really up in the air and slow, she was definitely ring-rusty but she warmed up into it and came from a long way back.

Love Envoi at Cheltenham
Love Envoi at Cheltenham (John Walton/PA)

“Overall it was a good run. I wouldn’t think the ground had anything to to do with it, I’d be surprised if it did.

“Harry always said she was only just about ready to start so I think she will come on plenty for the run.”

One of Love Envoi’s Sandown successes last term was the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Mares’ Hurdle in early January, a race that she will now target again.

Fehily said: “We’ll head to Sandown for the mares’ hurdle she won last year, all roads lead back there at the minute.”

The Fehily syndicates also had another runner-up at the meeting as Insurrection came home second in the Grade Two Betfair Beacons Winter Novices’ Hurdle.

Insurrection and Harry Cobden at Sandown
Insurrection and Harry Cobden at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was making his second start over obstacles after an easy win on debut last month, lining up at Sandown a 5-2 chance under Harry Cobden.

He looked the winner for almost all of the race and was only passed on the run to the line as Dan Skelton’s Deafening Silence headed him before the post.

“We were very happy with him, he looked the winner jumping the last but he just didn’t quite stay on that ground up the hill,” said Fehily.

“He’s a lovely young horse, he jumps for fun, we were very impressed with him.

“We don’t have any plans at the minute, we’ll give him a week or two and then make plans, it’ll be after Christmas and new year probably.”

Not So Sleepy powers away to win Fighting Fifth

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Not So Sleepy stayed on best of all to win the rescheduled Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown.

Saved from Newcastle’s abandoned card last weekend, the race lost plenty of its lustre when Nicky Henderson withdrew the current champion hurdler Constitution Hill and stablemate Shishkin.

That meant just four went to post, with Goshen and You Wear It Well setting a strong enough gallop in the conditions.

By the second last those two had done their running while Not So Sleepy, who turns 12 in a few weeks, was still on the bridle under Sean Bowen.

Love Envoi, who had not really been travelling throughout, soon appeared on the scene but approaching the last Not So Sleepy, who dead-heated in the race with Epatante in 2021, quickened eight lengths clear.

It was a noteworthy success for Bowen, who also holds a sizeable lead in the race to become champion jockey.

“You can see why Nicky didn’t want to turn up,” quipped a delighted Morrison.

“That was a Grade One, those mares were Grade One mares, Goshen should have won a Grade One and he has dead-heated in a Grade One. Whenever conditions are right he is a Grade One horse.

“I’m thrilled, this is the race we have aimed for since Newbury and it is a great relief that we are here.

“It’s great for the team and Raj who leads him up, rides him every day and gets ran away with at home. You have to keep it simple at home and he is a legend. This is his 10th season racing and he has lost none of his enthusiasm and he is better than ever.

“He is magnificent, he’s a legend, he is absolutely unique. He runs away with his jockey everyday and you can’t take him to half the gallops because he will plant and do things like that. But he was in the mood today, he looked really well and funny enough in the Cesarewitch didn’t look as well as I thought he would. If you looked at him today in the paddock he looked magnificent.

“Coming to the second last I thought we had it won and then I thought we were beat. But Sean said as soon as they came to him he just picked up again. He did what he did at Newbury and the reason he can keep going is you just don’t know how good he is.”

Bowen added: “It’s gruelling ground but it was something he seemed to relish today.

“It’s amazing to get a ride on that sort of horse. He was the outsider and probably had a lot to do, but on his day is a very very good horse.

“He got to the front two out and had a look around at the last, but he was always going to win when he heard someone behind him.

“It’s amazing to get these Grade Ones, it’s brilliant.”

Henderson duo on course for rescheduled Fighting Fifth

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Nicky Henderson says there is a “good chance” both Constitution Hill and Shishkin could run in the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

Both missed their intended races at Newcastle on Saturday, with the meeting lost to the weather, and the two jumping stars ended up spending Friday night at Doncaster racecourse on their way back to Lambourn.

Henderson mooted the possibility of Shishkin reverting to hurdles in preparation for a crack at the King George VI Chase at the weekend, having refused to race on his intended comeback at Ascot and the weather then intervening before the Rehearsal Chase.

However, it now seems like he may be joined by his esteemed stablemate, who initially looked an unlikely runner in the rearranged race.

“There’s a good chance they could both run,” said Henderson.

Things have not gone to plan yet this season for Shishkin
Things have not gone to plan yet this season for Shishkin (Steven Paston/PA)

“Shishkin needs a run and I think this is the easiest and kindest way to do it.

“It is only 17 days before the King George and the alternative is the Peterborough Chase but I like the idea of this.

“He was a very good two-mile chaser and so he shouldn’t find it too sharp. I admit he did get taken off his feet a little in last year’s Tingle Creek but this is a good idea for a race before the King George.

“The start won’t be a problem – he says bravely – he won’t be wearing cheekpieces and we hope he has a nice time.”

He went on: “As for Constitution Hill, we’ve ummed and ahhed the whole weekend and when I went to bed I wasn’t going to enter him, but I’ve woken up this morning with a different idea. I haven’t been able to make my mind up, so I’ve put him in.

“There’s a pretty good chance he’ll run, I’d say.

“It’s going to be a wet week but he goes in heavy ground. I’d say he’s more likely to run than not but it is a very difficult call, so everyone just needs to bear with us.

“I suspect both might run. They travelled all over the country together last weekend, so they are new best friends.”

Irish Point has the option of the Fighting Fifth
Irish Point has the option of the Fighting Fifth (Nigel French/PA)

There are eight entries for the Fighting Fifth, and they include Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point, a Grade One novice winner from last season.

Love Envoi, You Wear It Well, Benson, Goshen and Not So Sleepy complete the list.

Henderson’s Jonbon is one of six in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase along with Captain Guinness, Boothill, Edwardstone, Haddex Des Obeaux and Nube Negra.

Joe Tizzard’s JPR One is one of seven in the Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

Constitution Hill’s return edges nearer as Fighting Fifth entries revealed

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Constitution Hill could face up to 12 rivals when he makes his seasonal comeback in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in December.

Nicky Henderson’s gelding is unbeaten under rules and is the undisputed star of the hurdling division, winning all seven starts and among them six Grade Ones.

He was last seen claiming back-to-back successes at the big spring festivals, winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and then the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles before heading off on a summer break.

A graduation to chasing was discussed and ultimately vetoed, meaning the six-year-old will take a familiar route through the division by starting out in the Fighting Fifth – a race he won by 12 lengths last year.

Constitution Hill has been untouchable for two years
Constitution Hill has been untouchable for two years (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’ll go straight to the Fighting Fifth, that’s December 2, hopefully we’re all ready for that,” Henderson told Racing TV.

There are 12 others engaged, amongst them is Jamie Snowden’s You Wear It Well, a Cheltenham Festival winner who made light work of her seasonal debut when winning Wetherby’s Listed bet365 Mares’ Hurdle by three lengths at the weekend.

There is a programme of valuable mares’ events throughout the term and that is the path the six-year-old is likely to follow, though the Fighting Fifth option remains open for now.

“She did really well, she was carrying a penalty first time out and it’s always nice to see them stepping up to the mark like that,” Snowden said of her Wetherby run.

You Wear It Well beat Luccia at Wetherby on Saturday
You Wear It Well beat Luccia at Wetherby on Saturday (Nigel French/PA)

“The mares’ route maps itself out, from Sandown to Warwick to Cheltenham in March. Sandown is in January, so the question is whether we think about getting a run into her before then.

“I have just put an entry for the Fighting Fifth this morning, I’m not sure we’d want to be taking on Constitution Hill necessarily, but it doesn’t hurt to put an entry in.”

Harry Fry’s Love Envoi is another mare entered, with Kerry Lee responsible for a duo of entrants in Black Poppy and Nemean Lion.

Sandy Thomson has put forward Benson and Phil Kirby has entered Jason The Militant, whereas Hughie Morrison could saddle the dual-purpose gelding Not So Sleepy, who dead-heated with Epatante in 2021.

Alan King’s Sceau Royal is another seasoned campaigner with an entry, alongside which Brian Ellison has entered Salsada, James Owen has Too Friendly and Iain Jardine has Voix Du Reve.