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WBX.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle Contender On Trial at Chepstow Tomorrow 09/10/09

One of last season’s top juvenile hurdlers, Trenchant, lines up today at Chepstow for his first race of the new National Hunt season. Trained by Alan King, Trenchant finished fifth in the 2009 Triumph Hurdle before ending the season when beaten just over 10l behind Mikael D’Haguenet at the Punchestown Festival.

Katchit also contested the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle as a four-year-old
© racing-images.co.uk

Victory at Chepstow on Saturday could make Trenchant a possible for the £100,000 WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle on November 28th at Newcastle. Trenchant’s owners are also part of the syndicate who own Katchit, who also contested the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle as a four-year-old.

The WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle is the first leg of the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown which takes in the three Grade 1 2m hurdle races run in Britain each season: The WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, The Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and The Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Any horse that wins these three races in the same season will be eligible for a £1 million bonus.

The £1 million bonus for winning the WBX Hurdling Triple Crown sees £700,000 awarded to the owner, £150,000 to the trainer, £100,000 to the responsible stable lad or lass and £50,000 to the remainder of the stable.

Trenchant is the highest rated runner in Saturday’s race with an official mark of 144 and will be partnered by Robert Thornton with Charlie Huxley will partner Balzaccio who is also trained by Alan King. Any Given Day, trained by Donald McCain, has won three of his four starts over hurdles since being bought out of David Simcock’s yard in October last year and is rated seven pounds inferior to Trenchant at 137.

Iain Turner, PR and Sponsorship Manager for WBX.COM said, “This looks a typically competitive renewal of the 4yo Hurdle and if we get an impressive winner then the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle could be an option for connections.

We are delighted with the horses rumoured to be heading to Newcastle for the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle this year. With Punjabi, Al Eile, Sublimity, Red Moloney and Solwhit all possibles it looks like being another vintage renewal. Since we took over the sponsorship of the race in 2006 the quality of the race has improved and with the 2007 and 2009 Champion Hurdle winners scheduled to run at Newcastle we should have another top race.

The WBX Hurdling Triple Crown is the biggest bonus in National Hunt racing and with the record prize money in 2009 for the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle of £100,000 I am sure we will see a top quality field going to post in November.