Fighting Fifth Hurdle: Cinders tops final four

Caption: Cinders And Ashes on his way to Supreme Novices' glory

The defections of Darlan and Rock On Ruby leave a final field of just four declared runners, headed by last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Cinders And Ashes...

The five-year-old's trainer, Donald McCain, is bidding for a third successive victory in the Grade 1 contest following Peddlers Cross in 2010 and Overturn 12 months ago.

The Charles Byrnes-trained Trifolium, the mount of Andrew Lynch, was just a length and a half behind Cinders and Ashes when third at Cheltenham.

John Quinn's Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame reverts to hurdles having been narrowly denied in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last month. He will be ridden by Denis O'Regan.

The field is completed by Brian Ellison's consistent handicapper Bothy, who was supplemented for the race on Monday.

Regarding the defection of Rock on Ruby, trainer Harry Fry said: "Unfortunately after the dreadful weather around the country the ground is bound to be very testing on Saturday. To run him first time on this type of going is not ideal."

"We will give the Fighting Fifth a miss and wait instead for Cheltenham a fortnight later."

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