Samcro all set for stellar Fighting Fifth

Samcro, Buveur D’Air and Summerville Boy are set to clash in a stellar renewal of the BetVictor Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.

Gordon Elliott’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner Samcro had his reputation dented by the reopposing Bedrock on his seasonal return at Down Royal, but is expected to strip much fitter for this Grade One heat.

Elliott said: “I couldn’t be happier with him, he came out of his last race in great form and did a serious bit of work last week.

“There’s no big excuse now, it’s a proper test, like a Champion Hurdle. Buveur D’Air will probably have as hard a race on Saturday as he has had in his last two Champion Hurdles.

“Mick Jazz (stablemate) was beaten three lengths in the Champion Hurdle last year and he wouldn’t get near Samcro. That’s not saying Samcro is good enough, but there’s no excuses.”

Samcro won at Cheltenham over two miles and five furlongs, but Elliott feels he has the speed for two miles at the highest level, adding: “I’m as sure as I can be he’s fast enough.

“I think he’s good enough to be competitive in a Champion Hurdle, whether he’s good enough to win one, I’m not God Almighty and I can’t tell you that.

“The gloss was taken off him when he got beat the last day, so he has to prove it now, but I’ve not had too many horses like him. Whether he’s good enough, the talk will end on Saturday.

Last year’s winner of this race, Buveur D’Air, is unbeaten in his last 10 races, two of which came over fences. Summerville Boy is another contender, having won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in March.