Who takes on Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth? Willie Mullins could send strong challenge to Newcastle as entries are revealed

Willie Mullins has signalled a statement of intent in his bid for a third successive British trainers' championship by entering two potential challengers to Constitution Hill and The New Lion in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this month.

The unbeaten Anzadam and County Hurdle winner Kargese could bid to provide Mullins with a breakthrough success in the £115,000 Grade 1 on November 29, the same day as the £250,000 Coral Gold Cup – for which the trainer has five entered.

The Fighting Fifth could kick-start a huge seven days for Mullins' latest assault on major British prizes, with Il Etait Temps being prepared to attempt to confirm his Celebration Chase superiority over Jonbon in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, worth £175,000, the following Saturday.

Anzadam runs in the colours of last year's Fighting Fifth-winning owners Joe and Marie Donnelly, whose Sir Gino filled in for stablemate Constitution Hill to land this race 12 months ago for Nicky Henderson.

Kargese: could be set for NewcastleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Constitution Hill romped to a 12-length victory on his first start in open company in the 2022 Fighting Fifth, but was not ready for last year's race and instead made a successful reappearance in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day.

Henderson and the Donnellys have another potential Fighting Fifth super-sub in Lulamba, who is one of 12 entries, although Henderson made clear that the plan for last season's Triumph Hurdle runner-up is to go chasing and for Constitution Hill to take his chance at Newcastle.

The Michael Buckley-owned eight-year-old worked with Sir Gino at Newbury before missing last year's race and the 2023 Champion Hurdle hero is set to take part in the same gallops morning next Tuesday.

Constitution Hill ran the worst race of his career when fifth behind State Man at Punchestown in April, which came after falls at the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National meeting. 

State Man is a 1-3 shot to win his third Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday week for Mullins and the Donnellys, which means the same connections will likely see if Anzadam can add a win in Britain to his CV, which includes two victories apiece in France and Ireland.

Anzadam (left): one of two Fighting Fifth entries for Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mystical Power was sixth of seven for Mullins when sent off the 6-5 joint-favourite with Sir Gino for this race last year, while Arctic Fire and Wicklow Brave were third for the same Closutton stable in 2014 and 2015.

The latter running, won by Henry de Bromhead's Identity Thief, was the last time an Irish-trained runner landed the Fighting Fifth, with the likes of Apple's Jade and Samcro failing to justify favouritism since.

That nine-year streak will encourage backers of Champion Hurdle favourite The New Lion, who is set to drop down in trip and step out of novice company for Dan Skelton. Last season's Turners Novices' Hurdle winner could be joined by his sister, the fellow Skelton-trained Kateira, who was last seen beating Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace in a Listed match race at Wetherby.

The New Lion: big campaign aheadCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Golden Ace's trainer Jeremy Scott has given the two-time Cheltenham Festival winner an entry here, despite hinting that she may not be seen until after Christmas following her disappointing comeback.

Give It To Me Oj may attempt to emulate the likes of Countrywide Flame (2012) and Sir Gino by winning the race as a four-year-old. Gary and Josh Moore's progressive dual-purpose performer has won six of his last seven starts, with his most recent victory coming at Cheltenham's Showcase meeting last month.

Burdett Road, who could make his chasing debut in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on Friday, Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Celtic Dino, Tony Martin's Zanndabad and Colonel Mustard are the others in contention at this stage. Supplementaries must be made by midday on Monday, November 24.

D-day beckons for Constitution

The last five runnings of this race have attracted a total of just 28 runners – an average of 5.6 horses per year – and we probably shouldn’t get too excited about 12 entries at this stage.

Burdett Road holds engagements over fences and Lulamba is also set to go chasing, while Willie Mullins has had only one runner in the race in recent years and that was Mystical Power last season. He finished sixth behind Sir Gino and ended up in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Mullins has entered Anzadam and Kargese, but it’s anyone’s guess whether either will run and even Mullins himself won’t know just yet. He doesn’t make his decisions until closer to race day, but connections of The New Lion and Constitution Hill will hope he stays at home. They look set for a tough enough race against each other, without Mullins adding to the task.

If Constitution Hill is going to bounce back it will surely be at Newcastle. Henderson will want to know whether the engine is still intact so is unlikely to have his star short of his peak. Make no mistake, this is his Champion Hurdle whereas The New Lion’s one comes at Cheltenham in March, and maybe that will ultimately be the deciding factor. Let’s see.
Graeme Rodway

BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle entries

Anzadam
Burdett Road
Celtic Dino
Colonel Mustard
Constitution Hill
Give It To Me Oj
Golden Ace
Kargese
Kateira
Lulamba
The New Lion
Zanndabad

BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.00 Newcastle, November 29)
Coral: 7-4 The New Lion, 9-4 Constitution Hill, 5-2 Anzadam, 10 Kargese, Lulamba, 16 Celtic Dino, 20 bar.

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