2.05 Newcastle
StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £56,270
Cotton Mill: Looked ready to give Simonsig a serious race
when running out in Neptune and unseating; Promising comeback but five lengths
behind and easily beaten behind My Tent or Yours in Tote Trophy and hasn’t
quite been the same since, disappointing in pair of handicaps and a long way
behind Melodic Rendezvous latest; Hard to fancy even with blinkers. 
Duke of Navan: Improved hand over first switched to hurdles
last year, winning three from four including decent 4 runner listed contest;
Not beyond him to improve once again for all that he was beaten and easily at
that when upped in Grade at Cheltenham; Better horse now and has more to offer
for all that this serious step up in
class. 
Grumeti: Grade 1 winner and arguably best juvenile of the
season when winner of Aintree Hurdle; Good flat form immediately afterwards but
just the one run since, understandably finding things tough in Scottish
Champion Hurdle after 329 days off the track when respectable fourth; If in
sharper form after 224 further days off, he can go well here. 
Melodic Rendezvous: One of last season’s top novices, robbed
of his chance to take a whack at the Supreme or Aintree after two deeply
impressive heavy ground wins including Tolworth Hurdle, but even more
impressive on return in Elite Hurdle when giving weight and beating to Cotton
Mill amongst others; Has more to give on second run of the season after just
four runs and will take the beating.
My Tent Or Yours: Promising but hard pulling novice hurdler
who fulfilled his potential in bounds when turning Betfair Hurdle into a
procession last year (Cotton Mill well beaten second); Hot favourite for
Supreme Novices Hurdle’ and looked the winner for much of the way despite
racing keenly before being outstayed by Champagne Fever (Aintree win a
formality); Test of speed very much ideal for him but not a life and death
matter (maintained advantage over Jezki to the line) and could be described as
the one to beat. 
Rock Relief: Out of his depth here. 
Stormy Weather: Also looks out of his depth.
Cockney Sparrow: Seriously progressive hurdler who turned
Conditional’s event at Aintree meeting into a procession and then took hurdles
record to 4-6 when winning mares' Listed event at Wetherby four weeks ago when
following up flat success in style; Can give more but this a different level to
any of those tasks.
VERDICT: Many people will draw similarities between My Tent
Or Yours and Binocular, beaten three times as favourite in this race, although
last year’s Supreme Novices Hurdle second may be more tractable early in the
season than notoriously stuffy Champion Hurdler and the sound surface that has
prevailed will help his chances no end. He faces a serious challenge in MELODIC
RENDEZVOUS, race fit after an impressive Elite Hurdle win on his return and with
more to give on just his fifth hurdles start with the advantage of a run under
his belt, and a defeat at this stage would do his Champion Hurdle aspirations no
harm.
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