"She's all ready to get her season under way. Obviously, it's going to be a very good race with a certain Constitution Hill set to line up but it's a lovely starting point for us"; watch all the action from Newcastle on Saturday live on Sky Sports Racing with the Fighting Fifth at 1.55pm
Tuesday 28 November 2023 16:50, UK
Harry Fry has confirmed that Love Envoi will tackle Constitution Hill in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday.
A winner of eight of her 11 races under rules, she has been a credit to her connections for the past two seasons.
As a novice, Love Envoi won the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle and last season she went out on her sword when taking on Honeysuckle in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, finishing a gallant runner-up.
While she faces a tall order on her return to action against the best hurdler in training, Fry feels it is the perfect place to get her started.
Conditions are currently cold in the North East but precautions have already been taken, with the track under cover.
"She's all ready to get her season under way. Obviously, it's going to be a very good race with a certain Constitution Hill set to line up but it's a lovely starting point for us," he told Newcastle racecourse.
"We've been happy with her since she came back into work and we're looking forward to seeing her out.
"I was delighted when Noel [Fehily, who manages the syndicate which owns her] asked me to train her, her first season went great, she was unbeaten over here and only lost her unbeaten tag in Ireland, winning at the Cheltenham Festival.
"Last year, she picked up where she left off, added two more wins and was then a brilliant second to Honeysuckle in the Mares' Hurdle.
"That's what her season will be built around once more in March, but we are looking forward to seeing her out this weekend."
Benson is also set to take on Constitution Hill, with trainer Sandy Thomson confirming the eight-year-old, who won the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso in March, as an intended runner.
He said: "We are not going to beat Constitution Hill unless he doesn't start or falls over, but it was great winning the Morebattle last year and we'll have a go on Saturday and see if we can pick up some prize money.
"In the Morebattle he was just able to sit out the back, they went a ferocious gallop and he just picked them off. He'll be quite happy just sitting away and [we'll] see how he comes home."
Watch all the action from Newcastle on Saturday live on Sky Sports Racing with the Fighting Fifth at 1.55pm.
