Sir Gino vs Mystical Power - analysis and trainer comments for Fighting Fifth showdown

Regardless of Constitution Hill’s absence this is an intriguing running of the Fighting Fifth, and we have the race's biggest turnout in more than a decade.

Such is the depth of Nicky Henderson’s squad, Sir Gino has seamlessly stepped in to fill the Constitution Hill void. The four-year-old, who was the best juvenile around last season, had been slated for novice chasing until he eclipsed his esteemed stablemate in a Newbury gallop this month.

Kargese was the ultimate juvenile yardstick last season and Sir Gino brushed her aside at Aintree, eradicating any lingering stable health concerns that saw himself and many of the yard’s other leading lights forgo the Cheltenham Festival.

While we do have eight runners, the contest is a match between Sir Gino and the Willie Mullins-trained Mystical Power according to the bookmakers, and it will be interesting to see how the pair compare. Mullins is yet to win the Fighting Fifth, although Mystical Power will be his first representative in the race since 2015.

Only a strong-staying effort from Slade Steel in an attritional running of the Supreme prevented the five-year-old from achieving a rare Cheltenham-Aintree-Punchestown Grade 1 novice hurdle treble in the spring. That takes serious constitution.

Mystical Power is a speed horse and simply would not have been seen to best effect at Cheltenham either. The GoingStick reading of 3.7 taken on the morning of the Supreme was the course’s lowest since October 2016, hinting at deep ground, and the race produced a 1.01sec faster time than the Champion Hurdle later on the card. The concern is Mystical Power’s readiness as Mullins’ horses are generally trained to peak later in the season.

Stablemates Lossiemouth and State Man are both shorter in the ante-post betting for the Champion Hurdle, but Mystical Power could well have the requisite improvement to reach their level.

In a Constitution Hill-less Fighting Fifth, and with the big two lacking a run, plenty of high-class handicappers are understandably trying their hands.

On a sound surface Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sum can outrun his odds. Sam Thomas continues to operate at an exceptional strike-rate and this second-season hurdler’s Ffos Las form is working out well.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

'He's a talented boy' - Henderson happy with Sir Gino

Sir Gino may not have been Nicky Henderson's intended runner in the Fighting Fifth, but he could not be happier with his supersub.

The Seven Barrows trainer has won the race eight times and hoped to use it for Constitution Hill's much anticipated return, with Sir Gino set to go novice chasing. However, once Constitution Hill was ruled out due to lameness a couple of days after the two horses worked together at Newbury, his galloping companion was drafted in.

After missing the Triumph, Sir Gino showed his class when surging clear of Kargese in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Aintree. He has the same aura of brilliance about him as many of the Henderson hurdlers of the past, but this test will provide a more thorough examination of his ability.

"I just hope this ground is going to be okay," said Henderson. "We couldn't be happier with him and everyone saw his gallop at Newbury, but he always works like that. He's a very talented boy and I'm really looking forward to getting him back out."

Mullins: 'This will be very informative'

The Fighting Fifth is the sole two-mile Grade 1 hurdle in Britain and Ireland yet to be won by Willie Mullins, but the champion trainer in both countries is hoping Mystical Power can square that circle.

The five-year-old backed up a mighty effort in the Supreme to win the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, and repeated that victory over Firefox by a wider margin 18 days later at Punchestown.

Mystical Power: bidding to give Willie Mullins his first Fighting Fifth winCredit: Michael Steele (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins said: "We wouldn't want them putting down water for him, but he's fit and well and it'll be a very informative race for everyone.

"We seriously thought about going novice chasing with him as he's a hell of a good jumper, so that could be an option in the future."

What they say

Sam Thomas, trainer of Lump Sum
We're under no illusion that he's got to step up on his Aintree form. He won well in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and the form has worked out well. It's nice to have a go in a good race, but there are two very good horses at the top of the market. I'd like to think he could be in the shake-up as he has a good turn of foot, so hopefully we'll get to see that. The going is a question mark as he's definitely better with some cut in the ground.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Take No Chances
She surprised us with how well she won at Wetherby. She didn't look out of place at that level and was never outpaced. The Fighting Fifth is a different test, but she's in the right form and if you're not in it, you can't win it.
Reporting by James Stevens

Ground and weather latest

The Grade 1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is set to be run on good ground after 6mm of water was applied to the track on Friday.

After 48 hours without rain and sunny conditions with highs of 12C expected on raceday, clerk of the course Jane Hedley decided to water the whole course.

Hedley said: "It's been dry for the last two days and we're not expecting any significant rain before racing. Therefore we're continuing with watering. We put six millimetres all the way around this afternoon.

"It's just good ground, it won't be slow and we've been straight with trainers about that. Anyone that's fine on good ground will be happy.

"Saturday will be a nice day with bright spells. It's going to be a big day for the team and we're looking forward to it."

It is Coral Gold Cup day at Newbury and the chase course is unlikely to change from good to soft at the Berkshire venue.

The going is soft, good to soft in places on the hurdles course, and clerk of the course George Hill said: "The weather is set fair and I think everyone was happy with the ground on Friday. We'll see what the ground is like on Saturday, but I'd be surprised if it changes.

"It'll be slightly overcast but temperatures are set to rise up to 13C, so we're pretty pleased with where we are."
By James Stevens

Read the rest of our Saturday previews:

1.54 Newbury: 'She will be happy with everything' - does Nicky Henderson hold the key to this valuable handicap hurdle?

1.55 Fairyhouse: 'She should go very close' - plenty of confidence behind favourite in Grade 3 WillowWarm Hurdle

2.25 Newbury: 'He's an exciting prospect' - Gary Moore bullish about one of his runners as stable seeks back-to-back Gerry Feilden victories

3.00 Newbury: 'This race has been his target all season' - Broadway Boy set for bold bid in a Coral Gold Cup to savour

3.20 Newcastle: 'His work has been very good - we've got no excuses' - who is confident for the Rehearsal at Newcastle?