2014 FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE BETTING PREVIEW PT 2

The five-year-old son of Kayf Tara was well-placed by Henderson and you can bet that he will improve as the years go on and he continues to string together good performances. The options are wide open with him as they go forward and he could be able to give Irving the challenge he deserves here - particularly on the run-in. 

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Lightly-raced Aurore D’Estruval enters this one coming in off a listed victory at Wetherby back on November 1st. She was last seen in the Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree last year - acquitting herself well running against the boys. She finished fifth from fifteen and had only raced three times previously. 

The bookmakers have her trading at anywhere from 4/1 to 6/1 and it will be interesting to see how the odds move around prior to the race. While some might not think she’s going to be able to actually contest with the top two here, she could very well wind up being part of the action and could be a very interesting place wager if you can get 3 places. 

Purple Bay got the better of Irving in their seasonal debut and it’s going to be fascinating to see if lightning really can strike twice here. He enters the race with plenty of support and a good price as well with books listing him around 5/1 or 13/2. There’s a lot to like about his chances and he is perhaps a bit overpriced at 13/2 with many thinking that this race is really all about the five horses with reasonable prices. 

His running style might do him good over the ground here and he will be setting himself up for a very serious campaign  if he can capture this race. A Grade 2 and Grade 1 win before December is a decent feat for any jumper. 

Arctic Fire is also getting some support here as well and is priced anywhere from 7/2 to 11/2. He came second at Down Royal on his seasonal debut and looks like he will be able to kick on and produce more here after the much needed prep race. Remember he finished a close second to Lac Fontana in the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, then he went on to take a novice handicap at Punchestown. With the right ride, he has every chance. 

Sea Lord is in the mix anywhere from 10/1 to 25/1 and is making his seasonal debut in this one, which makes him a bit of an unknown quantity. While Swaledale Lad is 66/1 and Volcanic Jack can be backed as high as 500/1.