2020 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Betting Prediction by 4NJBets

2020 Horse Racing The Fighting Fifth Hurdle Betting Predictions: French Favorite Epatante Ignites Triple Crown in Blazing Form

The British jump season steps up a notch as the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle returns to Newcastle on Saturday, November 28, when the smart money will be on favorite Epatante.

The Triple Crown of Hurdling makes a welcome return with a 17-strong field comprising well-regarded names like Silver Streak and Ribble Valley, though it’s hard to look past Epatante as deserved leader.

The JP McManus-owned mare has opened as -188 favorite, acres ahead of the closest competition out at +700. New Jersey bettors will be able to wager on one of the British calendar’s most highly anticipated events through 4NJBets & TVG.

Epatante is out to complete the Triple Crown set—though not in the same season—after already winning the Christmas Hurdle and Champion Hurdle in the past year at Kempton and Cheltenham, respectively.

Nicky Henderson has proved a dab hand in the Fighting Fifth, targeting his sixth career victory in this race and hoping to improve his record as the most prolific trainer in the event’s history. Henderson first won the Newcastle race in 2001 with Landing Light and most recently won back-to-back with Buveur d’Air in 2017-18.

🐴 Altior
🐴 Epatante
🐴 Santini
🐴 Beware The Bear
🐴 Marie's Rock
🐴 Floressa

Watch what Nicky Henderson had to say about them – plus a few of his other stars – after they galloped at @NewburyRacing on Tuesday morning. Click below 👇

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 17, 2020

However, he’ll be without the talents of now-retired jockey Barry Geraghty following his retirement earlier in 2020. HIs replacement, Aidan Coleman, has already enjoyed success with Epatante after riding to Newbury triumph in November 2019, and the Cork jockey was pleased to be reunited with last season’s best jumper over two miles, per James Burn of the Racing Post:

“It’s great to be reunited with her. I rode her last season in a Listed race at Newbury. She was impressive and went on to bigger and better things. Barry [Geraghty] was elsewhere so I was very fortunate to get a chance on her. I’ve had plenty of opportunities lately and it’s an exciting couple of days with Paisley Park too.”

Unless a wild card emerges from the pack to spring a major surprise, there’s little reason to believe French-foaled Epatante won’t round off her Triple Crown record at Newcastle. She’s won each of her last three starts and has missed out on victory just twice in nine career outings, looking more irresistible with each attempt over the past 12 months in particular.

2020 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Info

Date: Saturday, November 28

Time: 9:05 a.m. ET

Venue: Newcastle Race Course, Newcastle, England

Prediction: Epatante to win (-188)

2020 Fighting Fifth Hurdle Odds

Odds via 4NJBets.