Top Class Races Kick Start the New National Hunt Season

National Hunt Grade One Races for the 2009Fighting Fifth Hurdle - The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is
2010 UK National Hunt Season properly get underrun at Newcastle in November and is the ffirst leg
way in October when it will be safe to say that allof the Hurdling Triple Crown; the other two races
of its stars will be taking their first runs of thebeing the Christmas Hurdle and the Champion
season in their annual bid to prepare themselvesHurdle. The name is taken from the nickname of
for Cheltenham in march or the Grand National inthe Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and was
April. Before those two legendary events takeinaugurated into the National Hunt calendar in 1978.
place, there are several Grade One racesSome of its notable winners include the great
(reviewed below) to be run in 2009 which shouldKribensis, who was the last winner of the Hurdling
provide tremendous sport starting in NovemberTriple Crown Other winners include three tem
with the Betfair Chase.Champion Hurdler, Sea Pigeon, who won the race
The Betfair Chase - This Grade One race and istwice and Punjabi who won last year and went on
the fourth most valuable steeplechases in theto win the Champion Hurdle.
country behind, the Grand National, CheltenhamTingle Creek Chase - This race takes place at
Gold Cup and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.Sandown Park in early December and is raced
It takes place at Haydock Park and is the firstover 2 miles with thirteen fences to be jumped. It
race of the Betfair Million, which offers a millionis highly suitable gauge for those who will be
pounds to any of the first three home in the racerunning in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at
who then goes on to finish first or second in anyCheltenham. Many who have won this prestigious
race at Cheltenham but who then must go on torace have gone on to win the Queen Mother,
win the Grand national at Aintree. It is a very tallincluding Master Minded who won both races last
order, but National Hunt fans will get an earlyyear, Kauto Star won the race twice and has
season chance to look over some of those thatgone on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice
will be at the Cheltenham and Aintree meetings.and the King George Chase, three times. Other
Past winners of the race include Kauto Star wholegendary winners have been Moscow Flyer and
won in both 2006 and 2007 and snoopy loopyFlagships Uberalles.
who won last year.