Newcastle ground expected to quicken slightly ahead of Saturday's monster Fighting Fifth Hurdle as Wetherby inspects for Wednesday

The going is expected to be set fair for an epic running of the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.00) at Newcastle on Saturday. 

The main protagonists all remained in the contest on Monday, including Constitution Hill, The New Lion and Anzadam, and the going is not expected to deviate much from the current description of soft, good to soft in places. Golden Ace and Nemean Lion are expected to complete a field of five. 

Clerk of the course Jane Hedley said on Tuesday: "We've had quite a bit of rain in the last couple of days and 11mm overnight. We're not forecast as much rain through this week, with the chance of occasional showers but no significant spells of rain.

Sir Gino: won last season's Fighting Fifth HurdleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I'm anticipating we'll end up with largely good to soft, maybe still some soft in places. We're really happy with everything here and we've had a good first couple of fixtures. The track is looking really, really well and we've got new padded hurdles in place, which have been well received, and we've saved a fresh strip of ground for Saturday."

There is no threat of frost with temperatures well above freezing throughout the week and climbing to around 8C on raceday. 

Hedley added: "It's chilly enough today but it's well above freezing and milder as the week goes on."

As well as the Fighting Fifth, Newcastle racegoers can also look forward to the Rehearsal Chase (3.15) in which The New Lion's trainer Dan Skelton has the short-priced favourite Deafening Silence.

But the racing programme is under threat before then with an early-morning inspection called for Wetherby's six-race card on Wednesday. The track is raceable but temperatures may drop to as low as -2C overnight.

The forecast is brighter for Newbury's two-day Coral Gold Cup meeting, which starts on Friday, despite the track having to put 10mm of water on the chase course on Monday. It is good to soft on the chase track, and soft, good to soft in places on the hurdles course.

Clerk of the course George Hill said: "The weather isn't going to be problematic. We'll have a bit of a frost on Wednesday morning and some rain during the day on Thursday, before some showers on raceday, but not lots of rain in quantity. 

"We didn't get as much rain as we'd have hoped during the wet spell earlier this month, but we're in good shape. I expect both going conditions on the hurdles and chase tracks to be as they are."

Read this next: 

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

'Nico had a big smile on his face' - Constitution Hill continues to please Henderson as big guns all confirmed for Fighting Fifth 

Watch: Nicky Henderson's thoughts on Constitution Hill's gallop and his planned Fighting Fifth return 

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