Timeform Daily: WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1), Saturday November 28, Newcastle, 13:55

Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 28 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Solwhit is a hugely progressive type who's won Grade 1 events on his last three starts, making an impressive return at Punchestown recently. He also possesses a sharp turn of foot on testing ground, so is clearly a big player."

A match on form and with no obvious front runners there's a good chance the race will develop into a tactical affair. Solwhit and Binocular are equally equipped for that eventuality, so the call has to be to side with the longest priced contender, even if it is only marginal.

Al Eile is a three-time winner of the Aintree Hurdle and finished a respectable fourth to Solwhit in the latest renewal of that race, but is hardly likely to be getting any better at the age of nine.

Binocular is a top class hurdler who went down only narrowly to stable companion Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle. He possesses bags of speed, yet both his efforts on soft ground prove testing conditions hold no fear for him.

Blue Bajan has had his limitations exposed in top company since winning the Swinton in 2008. He often makes mistakes, too, as when well held in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last time.

Go Native is a strong traveller who had the race run to suit when landing the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. He's finished rather tamely on two of his three outings since, however, and is vulnerable to stronger finishers.

Solwhit is a hugely progressive type who's won Grade 1 events on his last three starts, making an impressive return at Punchestown recently. He also possesses a sharp turn of foot on testing ground, so is clearly a big player.

Sublimity won the 2007 Champion Hurdle and showed he still had fire in his belly when landing a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last winter. More required here and needs the rain to stay away.

Won In The Dark produced a career-best effort when chasing home Sublimity in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last Christmas, but hasn't backed it up since, and his overall form suggests he's up against it at the highest level.