2007 WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle Day

A bumper crowd at Gosforth Park for WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle day and they witnessed a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1 feature.

A competitive looking 3m handicap chase got things underway and it was 4/1JF Low Reactor that stayed on best of all having looked in trouble early on; Peter Buchanan’s mount proving just too resolute for the Keith Reveley trained The Ring.

The market suggested that the maiden hurdle which followed was a match on paper and so it proved as Gary Moore’s All For The Cause pulled out too much for the odds-on favourite, Berwick Law. There was little of any note in behind but the winner, and runner-up for that matter, should progress.

The betting also proved to be highly informative for the WBX.COM Novices’ Chase with Shrewd Investor, sent off a well backed 5/4F, fending off the challenge of Karelian. The pair pulled a mile clear of the third and should both be up to winning again.

The WBX.COM “The French Furze” Novices’ Hurdle, named in honour of the Newcastle regular, witnessed a potentially top class performer in the shape of Tazbar.

“The best horse we’ve ever had” according to trainer Keith Reveley, Tazbar stormed clear of his six rivals to record a most impressive victory and he is now sure to be stepped up in grade.

The Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Years Day, won two seasons ago by none other than the mighty Denman, was mentioned afterwards by connections as a possible target and Tazbar certainly looks one to follow in staying novice hurdles this season.

Cloudmoor was a disappointing favourite in the WBX.COM Handicap Chase but that should not detract from the brave performance of the 12-y-o Pillaging Pact who repelled the late thrust of Cash On Friday to score at 8/1. A sixth career success, it was his first at the venue.

The WBX.COM Rehearsal Chase boasts an illustrious roll of honour and although 2007 winner Harmony Brig is never likely to be mentioned in the same breath as past winners such as See More Business or Carvill’s Hill, Nicky Richards’ charge showed admirable battling qualities to prevail by 2 lengths from John Quinn’s outsider Aleron.

He appreciated the step up to 3m for the first time, having shown fair form over shorter trips, and it will be interesting to see where the Greystoke handler sends him for his next assignment.

And so to the feature and the eagerly anticipated WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, the first leg of the WBX Triple Crown, containing some of the very best two mile hurdlers either side of the Irish Sea.

Katchit, so impressive last season when champion juvenile, faced the first serious test of his Champion Hurdle credentials and the Gosforth Park punters were seemingly not put off by the poor record of 4-y-o’s in the race. Sent off the well supported 5/4F, Katchit was clearly expected to do the business.

Racing more prominently than usual, Robert Thornton always had him positioned among the leaders, Katchit jumped with his usually fluency but it was clear entering the straight the Irish duo of Harchibald and Al Eile were going ominously well in his slipstream, the former travelling particularly strongly.

Successful in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle back in 2004, Harchibald has enjoyed little luck since his agonising defeat in the Champion Hurdle of that same season but jumping the last still on the bit under Paul Carberry, Noel Meade’s brilliant French bred looked right back to his very best.

Only having to be pushed out by the flamboyant Irishman to see off the challenge of Al Eile in second, who ran an excellent race over an inadequate trip, he now heads to Kempton on Boxing Day for the Stan James Christmas Hurdle and the second leg of the WBX Triple Crown.


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