Newcastle racing tips as Constitution Hill returns for Fighting Fifth Hurdle
Once again all eyes are on Saturday's race meetings but a lot of attention is of course on the Fighting Fifth Hurdle to see the highly anticipated return of Constitution Hill.
Tom Lunn has gone through the race cards, form, going and much more to help guide your horse racing betting choices.
- BetMGM Handicap Chase, 1.20: Geryville & No Cruise Yet each-way
- Fighting Fifth Hurdle, 1.55: Constitution Hill 1/6
- Rehearsal Handicap Chase, 3.05: Shishkin 2/1
It's not just the Grade 1 contest that stars this weekend at Newcastle racecourse, but there's a few more very interesting races across the card.
Including: the opener the Juvenile Hurdle, the BetMGM Handicap Chase and the finale the Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Class 1) which is set to feature a slightly prolonged return of Shishkin also for trainer Nicky Henderson.
The BetMGM Handicap Chase is going to be a very tough race contested over 3m6f and is only really suited to a few with that level of stamina.
No Cruise Yet, Tim Pat, Geryville, Destiny Is All and Robyndzone all appeal for that standard along with a fair level of consistency at this level and over these tougher trips.
Albeit, it's so difficult for a horse to put in their best efforts each run over 3m+, especially when it's over three and a half miles.
Geryville appeals as since the summer break he could be out for even more improvement over these kind of trips, having already raced 35 times.
The majority of those coming in France until he switched hands from F-M Cottin to Micky Hammond in October 2021.
Since his wind op in November of last year he's looked even better suited to stamina contests, placing a decent fourth at Sedgefield in October, behind No Cruise Yet but the weights have changed to give him a much better chance this time out.
As a result, No Cruise Yet is still of interest too who could defy that change in the weights to this rival who finished behind when he was just a head second to Tommie Beau.
He's fairly consistent placing multiple times over contests at 3m2f+ with just two of those out of the placings, which came in succession in March and April.
There's just the five runners taking on this Grade 1 hurdle contest over 2m.
The going is likely to stay soft but anything you throw at Constitution Hill will not phase him as the early heavy odds-on price suggests.
He's likely to go down as a legend of the game if he continues the way he's going, especially at just six-years-old he could have many years left being at the top of the hurdle food chain.
He won this on return from Cheltenham Festival's Supreme victory last year which was a 256 days break and Nicky Henderson will only ever send him out if he's 100% happy.
Constitution Hill beat Epatante by 12 lengths - hardly asked for extra effort and it's usually a case of how far he wins rather than will he win.
It was a similar thing in the Aintree Hurdle in April where Constitution Hill won by just three lengths ahead of Sharjah but realistically it also could have been 15 lengths still at a canter.
Shishkin makes a very interesting addition to Newcastle's lineup this weekend especially heading into a handicap, as he sets a huge standard.
At an overall rating of 173 and a weight of 12 the rest who follow will be seen carrying between 3st9lb and 1st7lb less than the Nicky Henderson-trained Grade 1 regular.
As a result he won't be a hugely short price as there's so much difference in the weights but at the same time bookies don't want to rule him out as he's so clear of the rest.
Ultimately, this is probably best watched as it's difficult to determine as Shishkin of course refused to race last weekend and could be caught out by some horses carrying next to nothing.
But if he's on song he should make it a great watch and a great horse to back as there's so many that don't look suited to this which is another upper hand to Shishkin.
All odds correct at time of writing
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