Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante features among 17 entries for the Grade 1 Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday, November 28th.

The two-mile highlight is the first Grade 1 hurdle race of the jump season in Britain and carries a total prize fund of £80,000.

Epatante, who is the 8/11 with favourite with sponsors Betfair, is reportedly on course to begin her campaign at Newcastle and will be aiming to give trainer Nicky Henderson a sixth win in the race.

Henderson’s previous winners have included fellow Champion Hurdle scorers Punjabi (2008) and Buveur D’Air (2017 & 2018). Henderson has also entered Marie’s Rock, the winner of a bumper and two hurdle races from as many starts.

Cornerstone Lad (Micky Hammond) caused a 16/1 shock in last year’s Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle, when he edged out hot favourite Buveur D’Air and Silver Streak (Evan Williams) in a thrilling finish.

Cornerstone Lad has had two starts on the flat in preparation for his title defence, most recently making all to win a 14-furlong handicap at Redcar on November 3rd.

Five horses have won back-to-back runnings of the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle, though Buveur D’Air was the first to do so since Dato Star (1998 & 1999).

Middleham trainer Micky Hammond said of the six-year-old: “Cornerstone Lad is in great form and firmly on course for the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle. It was fantastic to win the race last year and it gave us one of the biggest days in my training career.

“After the Fighting Fifth, we are strongly considering going over fences with him. That is something we will discuss more after the Fighting Fifth, but that is currently the way we are leaning.

“He had a lovely summer out in the paddocks and then came back and has already had two spins on the flat. I was delighted with his latest effort earlier this month. Those two runs have left him spot on for the Fighting Fifth and he is primed to go.

“We are aware that he will be taking on more top-class opposition, but it is lovely to have a horse like him in the yard and we are looking forward to trying to defend his crown.”

Star four-year-old Goshen has also run twice on the flat this autumn, latterly finishing third in a handicap at Goodwood on October 11th. Gary Moore’s stable star looked set for a very impressive victory until unseating his rider at the last in the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle, his most recent start over obstacles.

Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle second Abacadabras (Gordon Elliott) and Jason The Militant (Henry de Bromhead) are among three Irish-trained entries. They finished second and third respectively behind Aspire Tower in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal on October 30th.

Wind surgery coupled with a return to hurdling has breathed a new lease of life into Sceau Royal (Alan King). The eight-year-old defeated Ballyandy (Nigel Twiston-Davies) in the Welsh Champion Hurdle limited handicap at Ffos Las on October 18th and impressed again with a smooth success in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on November 7th.

Ribble Valley (Nicky Richards) is another who underwent wind surgery during the summer. He made light work of the opposition in an intermediate hurdle at Carlisle on October 22, his fifth win from seven career starts. Richards won the Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle with The French Furze in 2003.

Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle - Betfair prices:

8/11 Epatante

11/2 Goshen

7/1 Abacadabras, Sceau Royal

10/1 Silver Streak

11/1 Ribble Valley

12/1 Cornerstone Lad

14/1 Song For Someone

16/1 Ballyandy

20/1 Main Fact, Marie’s Rock, Not So Sleepy

33/1 Jason The Militant

66/1 Djingle

80/1 Solo Saxophone

100/1 Millers Bank

150/1 Voix Du Reve