Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1)

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

Buveur D'Air²⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 169| D

1/5

Reigning Champion Hurdler who boasts an almost exemplary record over hurdles (sole defeat by Altior in the 2016 Supreme). Embarks on a new season on ground possibly softer than ideal, but stands head and shoulders tall as the best horse in the race.

Form: 1/11111-

Flying Tiger²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: Nick Williams| OR: 140| D

16/1

Sprung a 33/1 surprise in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, beating Divin Bere by a neck. Stepped up in grade this year and finished 4¾L third to the ill-fated London Prize in Wincanton's Elite Hurdle (soft) latest.

Form: 61414-3

Irving²⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 154| CD

9/2

A classy performer who is a two time winner of this prestigious contest (2014 & 2016). Arguably a shade fortunate last year with the smooth travelling Petit Mouchoir a late faller. Had a wind operation since his last start in February.

Form: 64/1F36-

Katgary^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 132

66/1

A five time career winner who will handle the testing conditions. His sole UK hurdles success came at Newbury in March 2015 (2m4f), so he has a mountain to climb at these weights and is in truth simply playing for minor place money.

Form: 4-24344

Mirsaale²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Callum Bewley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 139| D

50/1

A fair dual purpose handicapper who last tasted success over hurdles at Kelso in September (2m good). Out of his depth in this company when an always detached and tailed off last behind Irving in this race in 2016.

Form: 94-1314

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.