England cricketer Craig Overton is set to watch his horse Brentford Hope tackle elite company in Saturday’s BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Owned by Overton through the Optimists Syndicate and trained by his best friend Harry Derham, Brentford Hope will be Derham’s first runner in a Grade One race.
Overton, fresh off his stint with England in the West Indies and preparing to join the Adelaide Strikers for the Big Bash, is eager to see how his horse fares against formidable rivals like Sir Gino and Mystical Power.
“There was plenty of banter about Brentford Hope in the Caribbean after he ran while we were away, but we were thrilled with his performance at Wincanton,” Overton told SportsBoom. “He ran a career-best on ground that wasn’t ideal, and has earned his shot at this level.”
Overton added:
“This race is massive for Harry as his first Grade One runner. It’s a proud moment for both of us, and I’m delighted to support him. We’re taking our chance, and hopefully, Brentford Hope gives Harry a day to remember.”
Fighting Fifth Line-Up
Sir Gino, trained by Nicky Henderson, is the race favourite after stepping in for sidelined stablemate Constitution Hill. A leading juvenile hurdler last season, Sir Gino demonstrated his potential at Aintree and now aims for the top level.
Another notable contender is Mystical Power, a son of Galileo and Annie Power, co-owned by JP McManus, Rich Ricci, and John Magnier. Mystical Power has impressed Willie Mullins, with only one defeat in his career to date.
Other entries include the Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Lump Sum, trained by Sam Thomas, and Dan Skelton’s promising Take No Chances, alongside seasoned rivals like Benson, Kihavah, and Colonel Mustard.
Coral Gold Trophy Highlights Newbury Card
Newbury hosts the Coral Gold Trophy, with 14 runners confirmed. Top weights include Sam Brown and Henry de Bromhead’s Senior Chief, alongside Irish raiders Horantzau d’Airy and Grandero Bello, and French challenger General En Chef.
Meanwhile, Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet returns to hurdles in the Gerry Feilden, aiming to rebound after a lacklustre chasing debut.
This weekend’s action promises high stakes across both Newcastle and Newbury, with Overton and Derham hoping Brentford Hope delivers a moment to remember.