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Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson will once again go head-to-head when Irish raider Mystical Power takes on 'super sub' Sir Gino in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.
Nicky Henderson's stable star Constitution Hill had been set to make his eagerly-awaited reappearance in the Newcastle Grade 1, but the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner was ruled out after suffering a minor setback last week, leaving stablemate Sir Gino to step in as his replacement.
Sir Gino, who was being geared up to embark on his novice chase campaign this season, is a general 6/5 favourite for Saturday's top-level assignment as he bids to defend his unblemished record over hurdles last season.
The unbeaten four-year-old was ante-post favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March but was forced to miss the engagement with Henderson's yard under a cloud at the time. However, he proved he was more than capable of mixing it with the very best when scoring convincingly in Grade 1 company at Aintree a month later.
Henderson has landed five of the last seven renewals of the Fighting Fifth, but he will face stiff competition this time around as Willie Mullins sends dual Grade 1 winner Mystical Power as he bids to claim the prize for the first time.
The son of Annie Power's sole defeat came to the hands of Slade Steel in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival, before he bounced back to winning ways to claim top-level victories at Aintree and Punchestown.
A formerly smart performer on the flat, the talented Brentford Hope will provide Harry Derham with his first runner in Grade 1 company. The 148-rated seven-year-old won a course and distance handicap on heavy ground last season and arrives after finishing runner-up in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on his reappearance earlier this month.
Previous Grade 2 scorer Lump Sum will take his chance for trainer Sam Thomas following his victory in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las last month, while Tellherthename, Take No Chances, Kihavah, Colonel Mustard and Benson help complete the field of nine.
Away from Newcastle, fourteen horses have been declared for the Coral Gold Trophy at Newbury, with Nassalam and Neon Moon the only two from the five-day stage not to take their chance.
Former Grade 2 winner Colonel Harry, who is a general 5/1 favourite for the race on the back of his runner-up effort in a Listed chase at Carlisle recently, will attempt to give his handler Jamie Snowden back-to-back victories in the valuable handicap after Datsalrightgino plundered the prize twelve months ago.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Kandoo Kid has been the subject of market support in recent days. A now best-priced 8/1, he will be partnered by Harry Cobden, while a red-hot Venetia Williams will saddle last season's Howden Silver Cup winner Victtorino.
Henry de Bromhead's Irish raider Senior Chief will take on the re-opposing Broadway Boy, while fellow contenders from across the sea include Willie Mullins' Horantzau d'Airy and Eddie and Patrick Harty's Grandero Bello.
The Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm-trained General En Chef brings French Graded form to the table, with Grade 2 winner Henry's Friend also set to take his chance for Ben Pauling.
Dan Skelton is double-handed courtesy of Midnight River and Galia Des Liteaux, while Iron Bridge, the top-weight Sam Brown and Remastered complete the line-up.