Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 4m 5.70s

Buveur D'Air²¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 167| CD

2/13

Dual Champion Hurdle and Fighting Fifth winner; most impressive when putting Samcro to the sword here last year (soft); rounded off the season by beating Supasundae by 2½L in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle (2m, gd/yld); top-rated in hat-trick bid.

Form: 121F2-1

Cornerstone Lad¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 148| CD

16/1

Mudlark with C&D experience (Class 3 handicap winner); well below the standard of Buveur D'Air on figures, but posted a career best when ridden clear to beat Theatre Legend at Wetherby (2m, soft) a fortnight ago; battle-ready.

Form: 3/2131-1

Nelson River³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 142

50/1

Lightly raced 4yo (2-5 over hurdles); enjoyed a productive juvenile season, culminating with a fourth placed finish (66-1) in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle (good to soft); is facing a very tough task here on such disadvantageous terms.

Form: 1164-5

Silver Streak⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 154| D

7/1

Made the frame behind the ill-fated Espoir D'Allen in last year's Champion Hurdle (Buveur D'Air fell); notched his sixth success over hurdles (from 18 starts) with a smooth Listed win at Kempton (2m, good); prowess on heavy ground is a concern.

Form: 22235-1

Lady Buttons^p1²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 146| CD

7/1

As tough as teak and right up there with the very best among her own sex (hurdles or fences); ready winner of a mares' Listed race (second successive year) at Wetherby (2m soft) on seasonal reappearance; ground conditions ideal; cheekpieces applied.

Form: 11142-1

Forecasts

Buveur D'Air (2/13), Silver Streak (7/1), Lady Buttons (7/1), Cornerstone Lad (16/1), Nelson River (50/1)

BUVEUR D'AIR begins his season seeking to make history and become the first horse to win the Fighting Fifth Hurdle three-times in succession since Comedy Of Errors (1972-1974), although Birds Nest also won this race on three occasions in the 70's (1976, 1977 and 1979). On official BHA handicap ratings he has 13lb in hand of his nearest rival Silver Streak (154), so precious few who witnessed him (at first-hand) thrash Samcro last year will be seeking to take him on at such prohibitive odds in arguably his 'easiest' Fighting Fifth mission to date. Cornerstone Lad and the admirable Lady Buttons will enjoy the forecast testing conditions more so than Silver Streak.