2009 FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE AT NEWCASTLE TIPS AND SELECTIONS

Binocular enters the widely-anticipated Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle as the distinct favourite amidst a competitive field. He is under threat, however, from the respected Solwhit who already has a grade 1 win under his belt this season having scored in the Dobbins & Madigans at Punchestown Hurdle back on November 15.
It truly looks like a duel between the upstart Solwhit and Nigel Henderson’s French favourite. The form horse is clearly Solwhit, and there will be question marks over top of Binocular as this will be his first outing of the season. He is looking good in training and we expect the ground to play to his strengths.
In the current betting market at Victor Chandler, you’ll find Binocular at evens- a slightly higher price than you will find elsewhere. Solwhit trades at 11/8 and there is a massive gulf in between these two and their closest competitors Sublimity, who is listed at a 10/1 margin.
My outside selection here is Go Native, a 6 year-old Irish hurdler who captured the Supreme Novices at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and he’s also had outings at Tipperary and Down Royal this year finishing 1-2. His 16/1 price is very tempting and while I think this is a step-up in grade for him, he will be ideally-poised to capitalize on any mistakes made by the leading favourites.
I expect that the Binocular/Solwhit forecast is going to prove especially popular and there’s part of me that thinks many going in that direction got burned last week on Kauto Star/Notre Pere. I like a Binocular/Go Native forecast, at what I expect the be a very attractive price.