The Fighting Fifth Hurdle in a 2 mile grade 1 hurdle normally run at Newcastle racecourse in the last weekend of November or first weekend of December. The 2012 renewal was run on 1 December.
This race along with the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton is part of the Champion Hurdle sponsor Stan James’ Road to Cheltenham series. Punjabi has been the only horse to land the Fifth – Champion Hurdle during the last decade but other horses have ran well in March. The Donald McCain trained horses winning the Fighting Fifth in 2010 ( Peddlers Cross) and 2011 (Overturn) went on to finish second in the Champion Hurdle later that season. Harchibald was another horse who won this then famously found one too good at Cheltenham.
The 2012 Fighting Fifth went to the Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame under Denis O’Regan. The Supreme Novice winner Cinders and Ashes had been the pre-race favourite.
2012 Fighting Fifth Video
2002-2011 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Weight | OR | SP |
| 2011 | Overturn (IRE) | Maguire, J | McCain Jnr, D | 7 | 11-7 | 164 | 7-4 |
| 2010 | Peddlers Cross (IRE) | Maguire, J | McCain Jnr, D | 5 | 11-7 | 151 | 9-4 |
| 2009 | Go Native (IRE) | Condon, D J | Meade, N | 6 | 11-7 | 153 | 25-1 |
| 2008 | Punjabi | Geraghty, B J | Henderson, N J | 5 | 11-7 | 163 | 8-11 |
| 2007 | Harchibald (FR) | Carberry, P | Meade, N | 8 | 11-7 | 165 | 4-1 |
| 2006 | Straw Bear (USA) | McCoy, A P | Gifford, N J | 5 | 11-7 | 154 | Evens |
| 2005 | Arcalis | Dobbin, T | Johnson, H J | 5 | 11-7 | 146 | 9-4 |
| 2004 | Harchibald (FR) | Carberry, P | Meade, N | 5 | 11-7 | 145 | 9-4 |
| 2003 | The French Furze (IRE) | Harding, B | Richards, N G | 9 | 11-0 | 135 | 25-1 |
| 2002 | Intersky Falcon | Cooper, L | ONeill, Jonjo | 5 | 11-8 | 155 | 11-10 |
