Talking Horses: frost threats, Newbury tips and a 50-1 Saturday shot


Keep your fingers crossed for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and also for Brave Eagle, oddly overlooked for Newburys big race

The good news from Newcastle is that there was no overnight frost and the course is perfectly raceable on Friday morning, according to its clerk, James Armstrong. But the question of what tonight may bring is preying on his mind ahead of the tracks big jumps race of the year, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday.

Buveur DAir and Silver Streak are due to face off in the Grade One contest, but only if Armstrong gets a bit of help from the weather. It really just depends how long the temperature is below zero tonight, and how far below, he told me early on Friday.

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Chris Cook's tips

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