'If you're not in, you can't win' - Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace's camp unfazed by underdog status in Fighting Fifth showdown

It is being billed as the titanic clash between Constitution Hill and The New Lion, but Jeremy Scott hopes the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.00) can spark Golden Ace's own brilliant revival as she bids to shock the racing world again.

The seven-year-old caused a huge surprise with her 33-1 triumph in the Champion Hurdle in March, when she capitalised on the final-flight fall of State Man, and she ended her season with a fine second to that rival in the Punchestown equivalent. However, she was bitterly disappointing on her comeback last  month at Wetherby where she was beaten 28 lengths in a Listed contest.

Golden Ace scoped dirty following her return, but she has recovered and will take her chance in Saturday's Newcastle Grade 1 in which she will again meet Constitution Hill, who fell in the Champion Hurdle, and a new rival in Turners Novices' Hurdle hero The New Lion.

Scott said: "We gave her a really thorough MOT after Wetherby and could only really find some mucus in her system, but physically and medically, we can't see any reason not to run. 

Constitution Hill: set for Newcastle comebackCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's definitely a comeback mission – as it is for most of us apart from The New Lion, who seems to be the only one who hasn't had any problems. She seems absolutely fine and we'll run and build the season from there."

Golden Ace is 20-1 to land another shock win, with Constitution Hill and The New Lion sharing 11-8 favouritism. The unbeaten Anzadam, who is set to represent Willie Mullins, is a 3-1 shot, with Nemean Lion the only one quoted at longer odds than the Champion Hurdle winner at 33-1.

The forgotten heroine status does not faze Scott, although he did warn his stable star may still come to her best later in the season.

"We're the underdogs again, but we'll always be giving it our best shot. If we all bounce back to form, it'll be a brilliantly interesting race," he said. 

"We've still got quite a lot to find against the best of them, but we've got to see. Anything can happen in racing and if you're not in you can't win, and we've got limited options. If we didn't run here we'd have to run at Christmas, but we'd prefer to go here and then run in January somewhere."

He added: "We're still a little bit way off in terms of her form from March and the way she is, but that means she could be spot on in the spring again."

BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.00 Newcastle, Saturday)

Ladbrokes: 11-8 Constitution Hill, The New Lion, 3 Anzadam, 20 Golden Lion, 33 Nemean Lion.

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'He won't get a better chance to beat The New Lion all season' - our tipsters have their say on a fascinating Fighting Fifth 

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