Fighting Fifth has a strong entry Zarkandar, The New One and My Tent Or Yours are the star names in the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle after 22 entries were revealed for the Newcastle showpiece on November 30. The Paul Nicholls-trained Zarkandar only met with defeat once last season, when fourth in the Champion Hurdle, and regained the winning thread in beating The New One at Aintree. Nicholls has plenty of options for the first Grade One hurdle run in Britain this season with his classy four-year-olds Far West, second in the Elite Hurdle last weekend, and the money-spinning Ptit Zig, winner of a valuable Grade One in France recently. Completing the Nicholls team is Caid Du Berlais, second to Jezki at Down Royal last time out. Nigel Twiston-Davies has entered The New One, currently ante-post favourite for the Champion Hurdle, but he is more likely to head to Cheltenham for the International Hurdle next month. My Tent Or Yours, second to Champagne Fever in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, may represent Nicky Henderson. Melodic Rendezvous, so impressive in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, has the race as a target, as does John Quinn's mare Cockney Sparrow. Grumeti, Sea Lord, Puffin Billy and Duke Of Navan are other classy types engaged, with the likes of Cotton Mill, Ifandbutwhynot and Prima Porta adding further strength in depth.
