It's just over a week until the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Sceau Royal is back with a vengeance.
The four-year-old succumbed to a disappointing defeat at the Triumph Hurdle in March and then again in Aintree but this season, there is no sign of those failings and Sceau Royal is back in form. The tipping experts at myracing.com have him as a definite one to watch. With an 11-length win at Cheltenham; he looks a completely different animal.
He also claimed the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton causing his ratings to shoot-up. It's no secret that hurdles are Sceau Royal's territory, with six wins out of 11 starts and lifetime winnings totalling £100,000 in that field. Trained by Alan King, he is currently favourite to claim the Fighting Fifth Hurdle with odds of 9/4.
In at second favourite is Irving at 9/2, with Paul Nicholls entering the 2014 winner. The 8-year-old has not won since the Bet Fair Price Rush Hurdle at Haydock in November 2015 much like Sceau Royal, he excels at hurdles, winning 7 of the 14 hurdles he's participated in.
Behind Irving at third favourite is My Tent or Yours. The 9-year-old was runner-up at the Champion Hurdle and claimed the Fighting Fifth Hurdle 2013 title. He shares trainer Nick Henderson with fellow entrant Top Notch. The 5-year-old has run in a novice chase this season and lived up his name at Warwick as he won the course. He is a smart hurdler who was narrowly touched off in last season's Fighting Fifth, and comes in as an outsider at 20/1 this time round.
Following Newcastle, is the Hennessy Gold Cup. Native River is favourite to claim the Cup at 5/1. The 6-year-old won the Betfred Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree in April and trainer Colin Tizzard will be hoping of a repeat performance at Newbury.
However, Nicky Henderson believes Vyta Du Roc possesses the perfect profile and is also confident of Triolo d'Alene delivering a big run. Triolo d'Alene already as the historic Newbury handicap to his name having won in 2013, successful from an impressive rating of 147.
Although 9-year-old has only ran seven times since, it's said that he is in fine form. Stablemate Vyta Du Roc has been out this season and managed a third place finish at Aintree, giving him good ground for Hennessy. Sadly, the Cup comes too soon for Sam Twiston-Davies.
The 24-year-old will not return to the course until November 30 after receiving the results of a CT scan on his kidney and spleen injury which he suffered last month.
