Countrywide Flame, a confirmed runner in the Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle
The ‘Super Saturday’ of the National Hunt season has now got the fans, crowds, connections and the participants nearly on the edge of their seats, however the news of more entries and withdrawing entries continue to make headlines. Despite the ground conditions making the victorious outcome for the John Quinn trained, Countrywide Flame, uncertain, the connections have taken their chances with the race.
The two most celebrated entries who have been ruled out from the line-up of the Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle are those of the arch rivals, trainer, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson.
The testing ground conditions forced the withdrawal of the now Harry Fry trained, Rock Of Ruby, who still falls under the satellite stables of the handler, Paul Nicholls. The race was to be the very first for the under charge ever since the conditioning of the new supervisor.
The trainer stated:
"To run him first time on this type of going is not ideal. We are looking at the bigger picture because the aim for Rock On Ruby all season is to try to win the Champion Hurdle again in March and we think he has a decent chance of doing that.”
"So we will give the Fighting Fifth a miss and wait instead for Cheltenham a fortnight later."
Nicky Henderson had to pull back Darlan on the same grounds, looking out for better options is wiser than losing a race which already does not look very promising.
The four-year-old bay gelding, Countrywide Flame, has won a graded race and has scored second in two out of the last three attempts, remaining active five times during the 2012 season.
Haafhd’s bay gelding won the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham race course over two miles and a furlong on 16th March.
He then qualified as the runner-up in the Grade 1 Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree and raced away successfully in the Hill Dickinson Hadicap at Chester.
The trainer’s son, Sean Quinn, commented:
"We just spoke with @RobEstio (owner) and given Countrywide Flame's well being have decided to let him take his chance in the Fighting Fifth this weekend."
"I just hope Newcastle don't get any more rain to put the meeting in jeopardy."
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