Irving fighting fit for Newcastle return Irving will bid for a third win in the Unibet Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday having had a wind operation since his last race. The six-year-old, trained by Paul Nicholls, underwent the procedure in March following three disappointing efforts, before which he had won a second Fighting Fifth after a thrilling duel with Apple's Jade. Dan Downie, racing manger for Irving's owners Axom Racing, said: "You wouldn't know if a wind-op has worked on him or not, really, as he can be so in and out. The only thing about him is he tends to go well fresh so that is a positive." He continued: "I think the main thing is that he's well in himself, we're really happy with him. "We thought about last week's race at Ascot but decided to stick to what we know. He likes the track and the race suits him, provided the ground is on the slow side. "I don't know who rides him yet, we haven't had the conversation. It's always difficult this weekend with Newbury on as well. "It looks like Apple's Jade might stay in Ireland, which leaves Buveur D'Air, and you can't be afraid of one. "We just want the ground as testing as possible, although Buveur D'Air did beat us on heavy at Sandown but we certainly weren't at our best that day."
