Fighting Fifth Hurdle
Grade 1 race
LocationNewcastle Racecourse
Newcastle, England
Inaugurated1969
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorBetMGM
WebsiteNewcastle
Race information
Distance2m 46y (3,261 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight11 st 10 lb
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£115,000 (2023)
1st: £64,711
Fighting Fifth Hurdle
2023
Pale blue, campbell tartan hooped sleeves, royal blue cap Red, white chevron, royal blue sleeves, yellow stars, white cap Light blue, green sleeves, quartered cap
Not So Sleepy Love Envoi You Wear It Well
Previous years
2022
White, black cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Pale blue, campbell tartan hooped sleeves, royal blue cap
Constitution Hill Epatante Not So Sleepy
2021
Pale blue, campbell tartan hooped sleeves, royal blue cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap
Not So Sleepy Epatante Sceau Royal
2020-2011
2020
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Black, white seams, checked sleeves, quartered cap
Epatante Sceau Royal Ribble Valley
2019
Yellow, light blue armlets, light blue cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap White, maroon hoop, sleeves and cap
Cornerstone Lad Buveur D'Air Silver Streak
2018
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap
Buveur D'Air Samcro Vision Des Flos
2017
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap Emerald green, white star and armlets
Buveur D'air Irving Flying Tiger
2016
Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap Maroon, white star and armlets, white cap Emerald green and mauve (halved), sleeves reversed, emerald green and mauve quartered cap
Irving Apple's Jade Hidden Cyclone
2015
Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap Purple, orange seams, purple cap, orange star
Identity Thief Top Notch Wicklow Brave
2014
Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds and cap Beige, grey epaulets Purple, orange seams, purple cap, orange star
Irving Aurore D'estruval Arctic Fire
2013
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Purple and pink diamonds, pink sleeves, purple diamonds, purple cap Royal blue, white hoops, maroon sleeves and cap
My Tent Or Yours Cockney Sparrow Grumeti
2012
Dark blue, white chevron, white and dark blue striped sleeves Black, emerald green chevrons on sleeves Black and light blue check, black sleeves, light blue armlets, red cap
Countrywide Flame Cinders And Ashes Bothy
2011
Yellow, royal blue seams, grey sleeves, royal blue seams, royal blue cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap
Overturn Binocular Celestial Halo
2010-2001
2010
Yellow, royal blue seams, grey sleeves, royal blue seams, royal blue cap Navy blue, green sash, cerise cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Peddlers Cross Starluck Binocular
2009
Pink, purple stars, pink sleeves, purple stars on cap Light blue and maroon hoops, blue sleeves, striped cap Mauve, white disc, white cap, mauve spots
Go Native Sublimity Solwhit
2008
Grey, pink epaulets, quartered cap Light blue and maroon hoops, blue sleeves, striped cap Light blue and grey stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap
Punjabi Sublimity Blue Bajan
2007
Purple, gold sleeves, hooped cap Dark blue and emerald green hoops, quartered cap Pink, Emerald Green cross belts, Pink and Emerald Green striped sleeves, Pink cap, Emerald Green star
Harchibald Al Eile Katchit
2006
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Red, white chevron, hooped sleeves and cap Red, yellow epaulets
Straw Bear Noble Request The French Furze
2005
Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap White, Red stars, Red and White hooped sleeves Red, yellow epaulets
Arcalis Royal Shakespeare The French Furze
2004
Purple, gold sleeves, hooped cap Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap White, Red stars, Red and White hooped sleeves
Harchibald Inglis Drever Royal Shakespeare
2003
Red, yellow epaulets Emerald Green, Yellow stripe, Yellow cap Light Green, Dark Blue striped sleeves, White cap
The French Furze Geos Intersky Falcon
2002
White, light green and dark blue striped sleeves, green cap RED, yellow epaulettes, red cap Pink, black diamonds, pink sleeves, pink cap
Intersky Falcon The French Furze Marble Arch
2001
Black and Yellow diamonds, checked sleeves, Yellow cap RED, yellow epaulettes, red cap Red, white sash, green sleeves, white armlets, green cap
Landing Light The French Furze Simply Gifted
2000-1991
2000
Green and white stripes, black and white striped sleeves RED, yellow epaulettes, red cap Maroon, Grey star, Grey sleeves, Maroon armlets, quartered cap
Barton The French Furze Bring Sweets
1999
Yellow, green star on body and on cap Red, Purple sleeves, Red armlets, Black cap, Yellow star Dark blue and white hoops, white chevrons on sleeves, striped cap
Dato Star Shooting Light Kilbue King
1998
Yellow, green star on body and on cap Navy blue, red armlets Black and white stripes, emerald green and white striped sleeves
Dato Star French Holly Midnight Legend
1997
White, light blue spots, white sleeves, light blue cap, white spots Pink and grey diamonds, pink cap White, red stripe and chevrons on sleeves, striped cap
Star Rage Whip Hand Native-Darrig
1996
Grey, maroon triple diamond and seams on sleeves, grey cap, maroon diamonds Royal blue, white striped sleeves Yellow, green star on body and on cap
Space Trucker Castle Sweep Dato Star
1995
Pink and grey diamonds, pink cap Red and white (halved), white sleeves and cap Red and Yellow diamonds, White sleeves and cap
Padre Mio Chief Minister Non Vintage
1994
MAROON, light blue slvs, light blue cap, maroon diamond Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow and black quartered cap Royal blue, silver striped sleeves, red and royal blue hooped cap
Batabanoo Surrey Dancer Morceli
1992
Orange, maroon disc and cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Yellow, red stars on body, green cap
Halkopous Royal Derbi Corrin Hill
1991
Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Emerald green, royal blue sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Red, pale green cap
Royal Derbi Nomadic Way Sybillin
1990-1988
1990
Brown, fawn cross belts, orange sleeves and cap Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap Royal Blue, White spots and sleeves, Scarlet cap
Beech Road Royal Derbi Kharif
1989
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star White and emerald green chevrons, white sleeves, yellow cap Pink, Navy Blue collar and cuffs, quartered cap
Kribensis Jinxy Jack Past Glories
1988
Maroon, white spots, sleeves and hoop on cap Grey and pink (halved), reversed sleeves, striped cap Red, black epaulets, hooped cap
Floyd Celtic Chief Sprowston Boy
 

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong (2 miles and 46 yards, or 3,261 metres), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling scheduled to take place each year in late November or early December.

History

The event was established in 1969, and the inaugural running was won by Mugatpura. Its title refers to the "Fighting Fifth", the nickname of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. In the year prior to the race's launch, the regiment (formerly known as the 5th Regiment of Foot) was amalgamated with three others to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

There were two triple winners of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle during the 1970s: Comedy of Errors and Bird's Nest. The latter also finished first in 1980 but after a stewards' inquiry he was relegated to second place behind Sea Pigeon.

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle was formerly classed at Grade 2 level, and for a brief spell in the 1990s it was run as a limited handicap. Its past sponsors have included Bellway Homes, Newcastle Building Society and Pertemps and the race has been sponsored by Betfair since 2019. It was promoted to Grade 1 status in 2004, and it is now the first top-grade hurdle race of the British National Hunt season.

Records

Most successful horse (3 wins):

Leading jockey (3 wins):

Leading trainer (8 wins):

Winners

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
1969 Mugatpura 6 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn
1970 Inishmaan 4 Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell
1971 Dondieu 6 Brian Fletcher Denys Smith
1972 Comedy of Errors 5 Bill Smith Fred Rimell
1973 Comedy of Errors 6 Bill Smith Fred Rimell
1974 Comedy of Errors 7 Ken White Fred Rimell
1975 Night Nurse 4 Paddy Broderick Peter Easterby
1976 Birds Nest 6 Steve Knight Bob Turnell
1977 Birds Nest 7 Andrew Turnell Bob Turnell
1978 Sea Pigeon 8 Ian Watkinson Peter Easterby
1979 Birds Nest 9 Andrew Turnell Bob Turnell
1980 Sea Pigeon [lower-alpha 1] 10 Alan Brown Peter Easterby
1981 Ekbalco 5 David Goulding Roger Fisher
1982 Donegal Prince 6 Phil Tuck Paul Kelleway
1983 Gaye Brief 6 Sam Morshead Mercy Rimell
1984 Browne's Gazette 6 Dermot Browne Monica Dickinson
1985 Out of the Gloom 4 Jonjo O'Neill Reg Hollinshead
1986 Tom Sharp 6 S. J. O'Neill Walter Wharton
1987 Floyd 7 Colin Brown David Elsworth
1988 Floyd 8 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth
1989 Kribensis 5 Mark Dwyer Michael Stoute
1990 Beech Road 8 Richard Guest Toby Balding
1991 Royal Derbi 6 Chris Grant Neville Callaghan
1992 Halkopous 6 Steve Smith Eccles Mark Tompkins
no race 1993 [lower-alpha 2]
1994 Batabanoo 5 Peter Niven Mary Reveley
1995 Padre Mio 7 Richard Guest Charlie Brooks
1996 Space Trucker 5 John Shortt Jessica Harrington
1997 Star Rage 7 Dean Gallagher Mark Johnston
1998 Dato Star 7 Lorcan Wyer Malcolm Jefferson
1999 Dato Star 8 Lorcan Wyer Malcolm Jefferson
2000 Barton 7 Tony Dobbin Tim Easterby
2001 Landing Light 6 John Kavanagh Nicky Henderson
2002 Intersky Falcon 5 Liam Cooper Jonjo O'Neill
2003 The French Furze 9 Brian Harding Nicky Richards
2004 Harchibald 5 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
2005 Arcalis 5 Tony Dobbin Howard Johnson
2006 Straw Bear 5 Tony McCoy Nick Gifford
2007 Harchibald 8 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
2008 Punjabi [lower-alpha 3] 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2009 Go Native 6 Davy Condon Noel Meade
2010 Peddlers Cross [lower-alpha 4] 5 Jason Maguire Donald McCain Jr.
2011 Overturn 7 Jason Maguire Donald McCain Jr.
2012 Countrywide Flame 4 Denis O'Regan John Quinn
2013 My Tent Or Yours 6 Tony McCoy Nicky Henderson
2014 Irving 6 Nick Scholfield Paul Nicholls
2015 Identity Thief 5 Bryan Cooper Henry De Bromhead
2016 Irving 8 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2017 Buveur d'Air 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2018 Buveur d'Air 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2019 Cornerstone Lad 5 Henry Brooke Micky Hammond
2020 Epatante 6 Aidan Coleman Nicky Henderson
2021
(dh)		 Epatante
Not So Sleepy		 7
9		 Aidan Coleman
Jonathan Burke		 Nicky Henderson
Hughie Morrison
2022 Constitution Hill 5 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2023 Not So Sleepy[lower-alpha 5] 11 Sean Bowen Hughie Morrison
  1. ↑ Bird's Nest finished first in 1980, but he was relegated to second place after a stewards' inquiry
  2. ↑ The 1993 running was abandoned because of snow
  3. ↑ The 2008 edition was held at Wetherby over 2 miles and 110 yards
  4. ↑ The 2010 edition was held at Newbury over 2 miles and 110 yards
  5. ↑ The 2023 edition was held at Sandown Park over 2 miles

See also

References

    • pedigreequery.com – Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Newcastle.
    • Ladbrokes Pocket Companion 1990/91. Aesculus Press. 1990. p. 43. ISBN 1-871093-21-X.
    • Race Recordings
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