Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle Guide 2022

Not So Sleepy, who forced a dead-heat in this last year, with the reopposing Epatante – will have an even greater task this time around.

He managed to force a dead-heat when seemingly beaten last year but he battled well to join Epatante again on the line. We last saw him finishing a good third in the Cesarewitch and he did do a lot out in front so we can mark this up.

He hasn’t been seen since, but reports seem positive and hopefully.. he behaves! Half decent place chance. 

Voix Du Reve looks to have a pretty impossible task on here. So, on the figures, he has 25lbs to find with Not So Sleepy.

Not So Sleepy is 4lbs clear of Epatante on official ratings too, so Voix Du Reve has 21lbs to find with her, not including the weight allowance.

That’s a reasonable enough task in itself, then, of course – Constitution Hill. He has 37lbs to find with him, a horse who earnt that rating as a novice.

Even though Voix Du Reve seems in fairly decent nick still, this presents itself as fundamentally unwinnable.

Epatante had to share the spoils last season with the reopposing Not So Sleepy, who managed to force a dead-heat on the line.

Epatante then had a really good season – winning two more G1’s and placing in her only other two efforts.

She looked back to her best last year, after a season blighted with injury prior, which is obviously great to see. However, this year, she has to take on Constitution Hill – her stablemate.

He looked absolutely unbeatable last year in his novice season, and he’s reportedly flying at home, so Epatante will have to be at her very best.

She has been there done it and bought the T-Shirt in open G1 company though, and she gets 7lb from her stablemate, so she certainly does have an upside. Tough task but highly intriguing clash.

Tommy’s Oscar reverts back to hurdling after two runs over fences. Those were not bad runs in the slightest – but we know how talented he is over hurdles.

To interrupt a novice chasing campaign, connections are looking to capitalise on what looks a poor renewal, bar those at the top.

Second or third is very much a respectable effort, and to place in G1 company just seems to juicy of a carrot to pass on.

He’s in good form at present, and he should go well – but he will have lots on to topple Constitution Hill.

Constitution Hill was undoubtedly the star of the novice hurdle ranks last year. He demolished his rivals on three occasions; Sandown (twice) and of course Cheltenham.

He won the Tolworth Hurdle on heavy ground, and he won the Supreme on good to soft, so he looks versatile enough with regards the ground. Oh, and he didn’t just win the Supreme.

He made the very, very talented Jonbon look fairly ordinary – trailing home in second by twenty-two lengths behind. Yes, twenty-two.

The time was over four and a half seconds fast, and it was visually breath-taking. I for one am looking forward to seeing him in open company for the first time.

Will he make a seamless transition?