You feel 99.9999% of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle tips this weekend will have the star Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill as the winner and it’s not hard to see why. The horse is unbeaten over hurdles and is one of the top-rated National Hunt horses in training.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Tips 2023: Why Not Try A Sandown Tricast Instead?
Saturday’s Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle was meant to be staged at Newcastle last weekend. However, with the Tyneside track getting hit with some bad weather the card was called off and was rerouted to fit into Sandown’s Tingle Creek fixture this weekend.
Despite being set to run in last week’s Newcastle race, trainer Nicky Henderson started to worry about running Constitution Hill in the moved Sandown race. With it being a lot closer to his next target – the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
However, with a week of ‘will he, won’t he run’ – the good news for Sandown horse racing fans is that Constitution Hill WILL run in Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle.
This has seen the best UK horse racing betting sites install him as the short 2/9 favourite. And is, therefore, going to figure in virtually all the Fighting Fifth Hurdle tips on the day.
But even a £50 bet at these 2/9 odds will win just £11.11 (plus your stake back), so there is little upside in betting on Constitution Hill as a single.
Of course, he’s likely to feature in many weekend trebles and accas, most probably with Jonbon, who is the hot favourite for the Tingle Creek Chase on the same Sandown card.
But there are other ways to play the race – so what about a tricast Fighting Fifth Hurdle tip?
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Tricast: Our Sandown 1-2-3
We all know, barring accidents, Constitution Hill will win the 2023 Fighting Fifth Hurdle – but who will come second and third?
With only six runners then we are only looking at just five other horses, or which we need to get two of these in the right order to finish second and third.
Love Envoi:
Talented filly that won the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022 and was runner-up in the Mares’ Hurdle to the classy Honeysuckle last year. Is the third top-rated in the field also gets a handy 7lbs mares’ allowance from the boys in the race. Is a CD winner too (won on this card last season) and has won seven of her 10 races over hurdles. Looks the most likely horse to be chasing Constitution Hill home and gone well fresh in the past. Expected to be bang there (for the places)
You Wear It Well:
Another mare in the race so will also get the 7lb allowance, but is also the clear lowest-rated in the line-up (140). That said, is a fast-improving 6 year-old hurdler that has won five of her seven races over hurdles. Also put in her best career performance last time with a 3-length Listed win at Wetherby. Acts on soft ground and is also another with proven course winning form. Looks a solid option to challenge for the places. Consistent performer that looks sure to run her race
Shishkin:
Refused to race at Ascot last time over fences and was meant to run at Newcastle last weekend in the Rehearsal Chase. That was called off too so trainer Nicky Henderson has been scrapping around trying to find a race for him to run in before the King George VI Chase, which is his main target. Last seen over hurdles winning the 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and is 3-from-4 over the smaller obstacles. King George the target and not been over hurdles for over 3 years
Goshen:
Talented but quirky hurdler so not one to trust. Returned last time over hurdles at Ascot but flopped again when well beaten and before that was down the field on the flat in the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket. Still a winner of seven of his 18 starts over hurdles and the big plus is he often runs well at Sandown (flat and jumps). His form at the Esher track reads 1-1-1-2. Decent track figures, but very unreliable
Not So Sleepy:
Five time winner over hurdles but last success came on the flat at Newbury in September. Famous for winning this race in 2021 when deadheating with Epatante, but is now 11 years-old and the oldest winner of this race to date was the mighty Sea Pigeon in 1980, who was aged 10. Often likes to get on with things from the front, but that is likely to set the race up for the main players. Too old and likely to set the race up from the front.
Fighting Fifth Hurdle Tricast
These look the safest Fighting Fifth Hurdle tricast options – either pick one, or you could split your stakes and back them both.
1st: CONSTITUTION HILL
2nd: Love Envoi
3rd: You Wear It Well
1st: CONSTITUTION HILL
2nd: You Wear It Well
3rd: Love Envoi
2023 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Info
📅Date: Saturday 9th December 2023
🕙Time: 1:15pm
🏇Racecourse: Sandown (2m, hurdles)
💰 Winner: £45,016
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV
WATCH: Constution Hill Winning The 2022 Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Newcastle)
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