Fighting Fifth Hurdle betting and odds preview

Events / Editor / 20 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

This Grade 1, two mile event, run at Newcastle in December, often attracts some of the leading contenders for the major betting race, the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, but the winner (often the subject of significant bets) has failed to follow up in the championship race since Kribensis in 1989.

This negative trend is sure to encourage ante-post odds compilers to try and tempt people into betting on the winner and thus attractive odds can often be found, despite this being a race out of the top drawer.

The reason for the lack of subsequent success of 'Fighting Fifth' winners could be due to the fact that Cheltenham and Newcastle tracks are so different, with the former being very undulating and with a stiff uphill finish, and the latter being a flat galloping track.

Straw Bear, the subject of sustained betting interest, justified odds of even money when scoring in style in 2006, but failed to complete at Cheltenham three months later, continuing the dismal record of winners of this race.