Fighting Fifth Hurdle Runners & Result 2024

Fighting Fifth Hurdle

Grade 1, Newcastle
£80,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
1m 7f 216y, Class 1

Saturday 30th November 2024

Constitution Hill is reportedly in “terrific form” as Nicky Henderson prepares his stable stars for the upcoming National Hunt season, aiming to have them “ready to rock and roll” soon. The unbeaten hurdler has been the standout name in jumps racing, though an interrupted 2023-24 campaign saw him race only once, successfully defending his Christmas Hurdle title at Kempton on Boxing Day.

❌ CONSTITUTION HILL. He needs no introduction and his issues were well documented last season.

Last seen winning the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park - he is the one they all have to beat in the Champion Hurdle division if back to his best.pic.twitter.com/NLvESHKdy3
— Road To Cheltenham (@RoadCheltenham) August 9, 2024

A respiratory issue discovered during a racecourse gallop at Kempton sidelined him from defending his Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham. Additionally, Constitution Hill spent time in a veterinary hospital in March due to a suspected colic. After a summer wind operation, the Seven Barrows superstar is now gearing up for a return in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle on November 30, and Henderson is pleased with his progress.

“Constitution Hill is in great form, everything’s ticking along well, and we’re in good shape,” said Henderson. “Newcastle is the target, and so far, everything’s going according to plan. We couldn’t be happier; he’s in terrific form.”

Although Henderson won’t have any runners at Chepstow’s traditional season opener, he is optimistic about fielding a strong team by the time Cheltenham hosts its first two-day meeting of the new campaign later in the month. “The horses are looking well, and we’re exactly where we want to be,” Henderson added. “We probably won’t have anything out this weekend, but we’ll be ready for the following weekend and the first Cheltenham meeting. We’ll be ready to rock and roll.”

2023 Fighting Fifth Hurdle
£80,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 216y, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Heavy

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Not So Sleepy 11 11-10 Hughie Morrison Jonjo O'Neill Jr 9/1
2 8 Love Envoi 7 11-3 Harry Fry Jonathan Burke 6/4
3 6½ You Wear It Well 6 11-3 Jamie Snowden Sean Bowen 5/4F
4 nk Goshen 7 11-10 Gary Moore Niall Houlihan 7/1
NR Constitution Hill 6 11-10 Nicky Henderson NON RUNNER
NR Shishkin 9 11-10 Nicky Henderson NON RUNNER

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle was first run in 1969, and the inaugural running was won by Mugatpura. Its title refers to the "Fighting Fifth", the nickname of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. In the year prior to the race's launch, the regiment (formerly known as the 5th Regiment of Foot) was amalgamated with three others to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

There were two triple winners of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle during the 1970s: Comedy of Errors and Bird's Nest. The latter also finished first in 1980 but after a stewards' inquiry he was relegated to second place behind Sea Pigeon.

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle was formerly classed at Grade 2 level, and for a brief spell in the 1990s it was run as a limited handicap. Its past sponsors have included Bellway Homes, Newcastle Building Society and Pertemps. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2004, and it is now the first top-grade hurdle race of the British National Hunt season.


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