Shock as Constitution Hill and Shishkin both declared for Fighting Fifth – but will rain scupper showdown?

CONSTITUTION HILL and Shishkin have both been declared for Saturday’s Fighting Fifth at Sandown.

But will the rain scupper the chances of seeing this sensational showdown?

Reuters

Constitution Hill has been declared to make his seasonal return in the rearranged Fighting Fifth[/caption]

Nicky Henderson stayed true to his word and confirmed both his unbeaten champion hurdler and fellow former Supreme winner are planning to run in the rearranged Grade 1.

But a yellow weather warning has been issued for large swathes of the UK and Sandown is set to be hit by heavy rain later today.

The rain eases on Friday but it is due to hammer down on Saturday morning – raising danger of a last-minute NR if the ground turns really heavy.

Love Envoi, You Wear It Well, Not So Sleepy and Goshen have also been declared.

But this race is all about Hendo’s stable stars going head-to-head in a two-mile thriller.

Nico de Boinville, who has ridden Constitution Hill on all seven of his career victories, gets the leg up again.

While James Bowen has been booked for Shishkin, who looks to be using this race as a warm-up for Boxing Day’s King George.

Rumours have swirled over the past 48 hours about whether or not Constitution Hill, who is owned by Michael Buckley, would run.

He was a huge drifter on the Betfair Exchange and was matched at a high of 8 before plummeting back down.

It means some people will be sitting on very tasty betslips now, with the all-conquering six-year-old a general 1-3 shot.

The 1.15pm contest, worth £45,000 to the winner, is being held this week after racing was cancelled at Newcastle last weekend.

The Fighting Fifth forms part of a monster eight-race card which features the Tingle Creek at 3pm, where Henderson also has 4-11 fav Jonbon.

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