Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:13 | Winning time: 4m 10.12s

Odds by:

Live Odds

Odds

Buveur D'Air

2/11, 1/6, 2/11, 1/6

1/5

Irving

9/2

Flying Tiger

12/1, 11/1, 10/1, 9/1

16/1

Mirsaale

50/1, 40/1, 33/1

50/1

Katgary

66/1

SP Book Percentage 110.85

Forecasts

Buveur D'Air (1/5), Irving (9/2), Flying Tiger (16/1), Mirsaale (50/1), Katgary (66/1)

The Road To Cheltenham commences up in the North East at Newcastle for the reigning Champion Hurdler BUVEUR D'AIR, and despite encountering ground which is possibly softer than ideal on his seasonal reappearance, he stands head and shoulders above these rivals, and looks set for a relatively straightforward success. His trainer Nicky Henderson saddled the winner of this race in 2001 (Landing Light), 2008 (Punjabi), and 2013 (My Tent Or Yours), and further success will see him equal the record of Fred Rimell (saddled winners in 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1974). Irving has his first start since a wind operation, and a third success in this contest will place him alongside the hurdling greats Comedy Or Errors and Birds Nest (both three time winners in the 1970's), but the young pretender Flying Tiger offers some each-way value at the projected odds, and is taken to follow Buveur D'Air home.