After the ‘Will He, Won’t He Run’ in Saturday’s rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle, trainer Nicky Henderson has finally confirmed Constitution Hill WILL run at Sandown. Meaning horse racing fans at the Esher track will now get a glimpse of the current Champion Hurdle as he starts his preparation for this Cheltenham Festival defence in March.
Constitution Hill WILL Run In The Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Sandown
Last Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle was called off due to the weather which meant trainer Nicky Henderson was left scratching his head regarding his plans for Constitution Hill – his star hurdler.
Soon after the Newcastle card was called off the BHA officials announced that the Fighting Fifth Hurdle would be slotted into the Sandown Tingle Creek fixture on Saturday 9th December. Which meant a bumper 8-race card for Sandown racegoers.
This, however, gave trainer Nicky Henderson and Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley a small headache as to whether to still run their Champion Hurdle in the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle. A race he won by 12-lengths last season, when beating Epatante (watch below).
Henderson Was Concerned The Sandown Race Was Too Close To Boxing Day
The problem being that with the race now another week on, it’s a lot closer to Constitution Hill’s next target. Which is the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day (26th Dec).
This led to a midweek ‘will he, won’t he’ run saga with the Fighting Fifth Hurdle market on the Betfair exchange one of the ways punters were getting a better picture on if Constitution Hill will run.
At a point on Tuesday, Constitution Hill drifted to around 4/1 on the exchanges which led to many feeling that Henderson and Buckley were swaying to NOT running him. Instead opting to go straight to Kempton without a run this season.
However, this price quickly swung back to odds-on after Henderson issued a statement on Tuesday night that all things were still on track for a Sandown run. With this finally being confirmed on Thursday when the FINAL declarations for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle were announced.
Regular rider Nico de Boinville will ride and Constitution Hill will be a red-hot favourite for the race with the best UK horse racing betting sites – being as short as 2/9. And is sure to figure in many weekend doubles, trebles and accas with this stablemate – Jonbon, who heads the beating in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown too.
Constitution Hill, who has won over £650k in total prize money, is also the 2/5 favourite for the 2024 Champion Hurdle next March with the best UK betting sites.
Henderson Also Had A Shishkin Headache
Coupled with the Constitution Hill conundrum, trainer Nicky Henderson’s problems doubled with last weekend’s Newcastle abandonment as Shishkin was meant to run there too.
His King George VI Chase hope had refused to race at Ascot last month in the 1965 Chase (watch below), so connections were keen to get a run into him to iron out this issue before heading to Kempton on Boxing Day.
He’d intended to run in last Saturday’s Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, where he was set to carry topweight. But with that race falling by the wayside, the options for Shishkin were becoming limited with Kempton looming.
As a result, and with the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle being reopened for entries, Henderson has also opted to return his former Arkle Chase winner back to hurdles to get that all-important run into him.
Meaning he’ll take on his stablemate Constitution Hill at Sandown on Saturday.
Shishkin, who is owned by Joe Donnelly, last ran over hurdles when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. Plus, will head to Sandown 3-from-4 over the smaller obstacles.
Shishkin can be backed at 6/1 for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day with the best online gambling sites.
2023 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Details
📅Date: Saturday 9th December 2023
🕙Time: 1:15pm
🏇Racecourse: Sandown (2m, hurdles)
💰 Winner: £45,016
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV (see Fighting Fifth Hurdle info here)
Note: The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is normally run at Newcastle
Sandown Park Race Running Order and Ties For Saturday 9th December 2023
- 11:35: Betfair Claremont Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m RTV
- 12:05: Betfair Supports Racing With Pride Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares’ Hurdle Series Qual’) Cl3 (3yo+ 0-130) 2m4f RTV
- 12:40: Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m7½f RTV
- 1:15: Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m ITV4
- 1:50: Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m7½f ITV4
- 2:25: Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-150) 2m ITV4
- 3:00: Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m7½f ITV4
- 3:35: Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+ 0-150) 3m4½f ITV4
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
