Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-10-09
Fighting Fifth Hurdle 2026
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is the first Grade 1 hurdle of the British jumps season, and an early look at the two-mile hurdlers who will shape the Champion Hurdle picture. It takes its name from the "Fighting Fifth", the nickname of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
For 2026 the race is scheduled for Saturday 28 November 2026. The off time, the going and the declared runners are confirmed in race week, and this page adds the off time and going as they are published.
At a glance
- Course: Newcastle (Gosforth Park)
- Grade: Grade 1
- Distance: 2m 190y, which varies a little with the rail positions
- Age: 4yo+
- First run: 1969
Below: the 2026 details, the recent winners with the trends behind them, how to watch, and the day out. Our Fighting Fifth course guide has more of its history, and the Newcastle course guide covers the track.
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2026 race details
2026 race details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Race date | Saturday 28 November 2026 |
| Off time | TBA |
| Going | TBA |
| Field size | TBA |
| Distance | 2m 190y |
| Grade | Grade 1 |
| Age | 4yo+ |
Final declarations are made two days before the race, and the off time and going above update once they are published.
Where the race fits
Fields are small, so every runner tends to be a serious one. The same Saturday brings the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, and the next Grade 1 hurdle for the same horses is the Christmas Hurdle, on the King George VI Chase card at Kempton on Boxing Day. Our festivals and big races board lists every big race coming up, soonest first.
On race morning the AI race predictor publishes its ratings and fair prices for every British race, the Fighting Fifth included.
Recent winners and trends
Recent winners and trends
Fighting Fifth Hurdle: Recent Winners
Grade 1 · 2m 190y · 4yo+ · Newcastle · Late November or early December
| Year | Winner | Age | SP | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Golden Ace | 7 | 22/1 | Lorcan Williams | Jeremy Scott |
| 2024 | Sir Gino | 4 | 6/5jf | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2023 | Not So Sleepy | 11 | 9/1 | Sean Bowen | Hughie Morrison |
| 2022 | Constitution Hill | 5 | 1/4f | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2021 | Not So Sleepy | 9 | 18/1 | Jonathan Burke | Hughie Morrison |
| 2021 | Epatante | 7 | 11/8f | Aidan Coleman | Nicky Henderson |
| 2020 | Epatante | 6 | 8/11f | Aidan Coleman | Nicky Henderson |
| 2019 | Cornerstone Lad | 5 | 16/1 | Henry Brooke | Micky Hammond |
| 2018 | Buveur D'Air | 7 | 11/8 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2017 | Buveur D'Air | 6 | 1/5f | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
Trends
- The returned favourite (joint favourites included) won 5 of the 10 runnings from 2016 to 2025.
- Nicky Henderson trained the winner, or a dead-heater, in six of the ten runnings from 2016 to 2025 (Buveur D'Air twice, Epatante twice, Constitution Hill, Sir Gino).
- Four winning rows in 2016 to 2025 started at 9/1 or bigger: Golden Ace (22/1, 2025), Not So Sleepy (18/1 in the 2021 dead heat and 9/1 in 2023) and Cornerstone Lad (16/1, 2019).
- Field sizes ran from 4 to 7 runners in 2016 to 2025.
Source-verified from official records. Last checked 2026-10-08.
The trends
Winning age
- 7yo
- 27%
- 5yo
- 18%
- 6yo
- 18%
- 4yo
- 9%
Age known for 11 of 11 winners (2016–2025)
Market
- Started favourite
- 45%
- Won at 10/1 or bigger
- 27%
- Won at 5/1 or shorter
- 55%
Starting price known for 11 of 11 winners (2016–2025)
Trainers & jockeys
- Most successful trainer
- Nicky Henderson (6)
- Most successful jockey
- Aidan Coleman (2)
11 runnings (2016–2025)
The records
The records
- Leading trainer: Nicky Henderson, with nine wins, including Buveur D'Air (2017 and 2018), Epatante (2020 and the 2021 dead heat) and Constitution Hill (2022).
- Most wins by a horse: Comedy of Errors and Birds Nest, three each.
- Leading jockey: Barry Geraghty, with three wins.
- The 2021 dead heat: Epatante and Not So Sleepy could not be separated.
- Other venues: the race has been moved when Newcastle could not stage it, most recently to Sandown in 2023.
How to watch and where to bet
How to watch and where to bet
The television listing and the off time are confirmed in race week, when the declarations are out. This page shows the off time above as soon as it is published.
Two things are worth checking before you bet:
- Free bets and their terms. Check the minimum odds and the expiry before you claim. Our free bet offers page compares them.
- Best odds guaranteed. Prices move once the going is known. A BOG bookmaker pays the starting price if it is bigger than the price you took. See our best BOG bookmakers.
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Raceday at Newcastle
Raceday at Newcastle
Fighting Fifth day is one of the biggest jumps days of the year at Newcastle. Book ahead and dress for a cold late-November afternoon in the north east.
For getting there and the enclosures, read our day out at Newcastle guide, and the Newcastle betting guide has the course angles.
Results go on this page within 24 hours of the race, and the full card's results are on our racing results page the same evening.
Frequently asked questions
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All Newcastle guides
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Newcastle Tapeta Tips: Draw Bias, Going & Betting Guide
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Read moreResearch the field with the AI Race Predictor
Our model publishes calibrated win-probability estimates for UK races — a second opinion to understand a race, not tips. It's open about its record: it doesn't beat the market, and we show exactly how it does.
Work it out & learn the basics
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