Epatante is Saturday’s best bet in Betfair’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle
2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante can return to winning ways by taking Saturday afternoon’s Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
Champion Hurdle winner Epatante can capture her second Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday. ©GettyImages
The JP McManus-owned horse won this race 12 months ago but under-performed in her next outing in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. Beaten at odds of 1/5 there, defeats in the Champion Hurdle and Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown followed.
These were disappointing efforts for the fans of the Nicky Henderson trained seven-year-old mare, but she was by no means disgraced.
Fit and Fancied After Summer Sunshine?
A seven-month summer break may have reinvigorated the French-bred and we are speculating she will be fit enough to take this two-mile hurdle for a second time.
Trainer Nicky Henderson, who has won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle six times in the past, was certainly full of enthusiasm when talking to Sky Sports Racing earlier in the week.
“We’re all set to go. We’ve been very happy. Her [Epatante] work has been good, she had a nice away day at Newbury last week. She enjoyed it and worked very well,” reported the trainer.
“I think she’s in good form. But I’ve got to say she was impressive beating Sceau Royal last year and he was impressive at Wincanton the other day, so I don’t think it’s going to be as straightforward this time,” the veteran horseman concluded.
Royal Engagement
Indeed, Sceau Royal seems to have improved since taking second spot in this race last year. Put over fences he beat RSA Chase winner Champ in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury at the start of 2021.
Remerging from his summer break, he has won both his hurdle assignments this autumn. The latest success came at Grade 2 level in the Unibet Elite Hurdle.
Monmiral, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, is another opponent with fine credentials. A big-money purchase after winning a three-year-old hurdle in Auteuil, France, he is unbeaten in four British starts.
Success in a Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Aintree Festival in the spring suggested this could be a superstar of the future.
However, this will be his first foray into an all-aged contest. Aged four, that is a big ask and like all other rivals, he does have to concede a seven-pound sex allowance to Epatante.
The form Is in Epatante’s Book
In ten starts Epatante has won six times. Three of those victories have come at Grade 1 level.
If you take those credentials on face value, even before assessing the probability of her bouncing back from three sub-standard efforts, she looks a sound bet at the even-money the best horse racing betting sites are offering.
Mr Glass Can Smash His Rivals
Earlier on the Newcastle card, Mr Glass can continue Paul Nicholls’ exceptional run with novice hurdlers.
This five-year-old son of Sholokhov – a sire that has produced stars such as Don Cossack and Shishkin – could be headed to the top of the novice hurdle division.
Successful in his last three outings, he looked to have a big engine when winning on his hurdles debut at Chepstow a month ago.
An odds-on favorite in that 14-runer race, Mr Glass was tentative at his early flights but warmed to the task and won with plenty in hand.
There is unquestionably potential for further improvement and that means he will be a tough nut to crack in the 12.55 pm contest.
Enrillo to Gain Compensation
Nicholls has a dozen runners entered at three meetings across the UK on Saturday. Amongst those Enrillo is an eye-catcher. He makes his seasonal debut in the 3.00 pm at Newbury, the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase.
A very classy hurdler, this seven-year-old is lightly raced and it is unlikely we have seen the best of him over fences.
Connections lost £50,000 when Enrillo was disqualified from first (and placed third) for causing interference in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase on his final run of the 2020/21 season.
Unlikely to want for fitness, this time he receives weight from his chief rivals. Harry Cobden’s mount can put that advantage to good use on Saturday.
Betvictor are amongst the few online bookmakers offering industry top-price 11/2 about Enrillo while also offering five each-way paying positions.
This Weekend’s Top Tips:
- Epatante – 3.15 pm Newcastle
- Mr Glass – 12.55 pm Newcastle
- Enrillo – 3.00 pm Newbury
