Fighting Fifth Hurdle

[Guest]

Money for Cinders and Ashes already....

Rock On Ruby, Cinders And Ashes and Countrywide Flame, the winners of the Champion, Supreme and Triumph Hurdles respectively, are among 14 entries for the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on December 1. Having been prepared by Paul Nicholls' former assistant Harry Fry when winning the Champion Hurdle, Rock On Ruby is now in Fry's sole care at his Seaborough base.

He was last seen finishing third to Oscar Whisky in the Aintree Hurdle.

Cinders And Ashes could represent Donald McCain, who has won the last two renewals with Peddlers Cross and Overturn.

Countrywide Flame went close to winning the Cesarewitch for John Quinn when he last ran on the Flat.

Also in the mix is Nicky Henderson's Grandouet, who has been off for nearly a year since winning the International Hurdle in December.

Henderson has also entered Darlan and Cash And Go, both due to run this weekend.

Noel Meade's Go Native, winner of the race back in 2009, is also in the mix along with Charles Brynes' Trifolium.

Blue Bajan, Prospect Wells, Get Me Out Of Here and Noble Alan are also among the entries.

"We are delighted by the 14 entries in the race with this year's Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby, now in the care of Harry Fry, leading a top-class turnout deserving of Grade One status," said Rory Jiwani of Stan James.

"Joining him is Donald McCain's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Cinders And Ashes and Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame, who came so close to winning the Cesarewitch for John Quinn last month.

"Nicky Henderson has three entries in the race led by last year's StanJames.com International Hurdle winner, Grandouet who shares favouritism at 7-2 with Rock On Ruby."

[Lester]

Cinders and Ashes will go for the race then..harder to call which of the rest will.

Clashes with the Hennessy at Newbury.

[Statto]

Dunwoody

Onto the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and this gives us chance to see some Champion Hurdle hopefuls in action with Cinders and Ashes, Darlan and last year's Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby all entered at this stage.

However, a lot will depend on the ground as Rock On Ruby's connections have already said that if conditions get any softer up at Newcastle then their champion is unlikely to run, with a tilt Stan James International Hurdle at Cheltenham in a few weeks his next best target. While we know Darlan was pulled out at Prestbury Park earlier this month because of bad ground, so that leaves Cinders and Ashes, from the Donald McCain yard who have won this for the last two seasons, the obvious call with two career wins already in heavy ground.

[Statto]

Newcastle (C4/ATR)

2.20 – StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle Grade 1 (CLASS 1) (4yo+) CH4 2m

10/10 – Placed in the first two in their previous race
10/10 – Won a hurdles race over at least 2m previously
9/10 – Won at least a Grade 2 hurdle during their career
9/10 – Won the Champion Hurdle later that same season
8/10 – Favourites that won
8/10 – Had won at least 4 times over hurdles
7/10 – Won their previous race
7/10 – Officially rated 151 or higher
7/10 – Raced within the last 6 weeks
6/10 – Finish in the top 5 in the Champion Hurdle later that season
5/10 – Favourites that won (1 joint)
4/10 – Won by an Irish bred
3/10 – Won by an Irish based stable
2/10 – Raced over hurdles at Newcastle previously
1/10 – Won the Champion Hurdle later that same season (2008 Punjabi)
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 13/2