'We thought why not' - Tommy's Oscar connections taking aim at Fighting Fifth

Ian Hamilton is ready to roll with the punches as Tommy's Oscar prepares to take on Constitution Hill in Saturday's Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.10) at Newcastle.

The seven-year-old, who is owned by Hamilton and trained by his wife Ann, is one of five runners in the Grade 1 with Supreme Novices' winner Constitution Hill and stablemate Epatante being the obvious contenders.

Jockey Danny McMenamin will partner Tommy's Oscar, who is a 25-1 shot with the race sponsor. He landed a two-runner race on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle, a first start over fences, before finishing second to Banbridge during Cheltenham's November meeting on his last start.

Hamilton said about going back over hurdles: "We're going to run him as it's just down the road. He's really well after he came out of Cheltenham, so we thought why not.

"We don't think we're as good as Constitution Hill but we're as highly rated as the mare [Epatante], except she has the 7lb allowance. If everything went in his [Tommy's Oscar] favour he might have a chance of being upsides her."

Tommy's Oscar was also entered in a 2m novice chase at Carlisle on Sunday, but Hamilton believes the opportunity at Newcastle was not one to be missed.

He said: "We don't want to run him in a bog at Carlisle with a penalty, and if he finishes third or fourth it's better than winning a good handicap chase.

"Some people have said we shouldn't switch back from fences, but why not? Alan King does it with his good hurdlers."

Not So Sleepy, who was involved in a dead-heat with Epatante in this race last year, will also be involved, as will the Ian Jardine-trained Voix Du Reve.

Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.10 Newcastle, Saturday)

Betfair: 1-4 Constitution Hill, 7-2 Epatante, 14-1 Not So Sleepy, 25-1 Tommy's Oscar, 100-1 Voix Du Reve

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