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Elliott wants more rain at Newcastle

Gordon Elliott is keeping a careful eye on the weather at Newcastle for Samcro’s planned run in the Betvictor Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday.

The six-year-old carried all before him as a novice last term, but he suffered a surprise defeat on his return at Down Royal and was a late withdrawal from last Sunday’s Morgiana Hurdle because of the good ground at Punchestown.

Elliott quickly nominated the Newcastle Grade One – and a possible clash with reigning champion hurdler Buveur D’Air – as a likely port of call, but he would like to see a bit more rain at Gosforth Park.

The trainer said: “Samcro did a nice piece of work on Friday and the plan is still the Fighting Fifth. We just need a bit of rain over there now.”

The Newcastle ground was reported to be good to soft on Sunday after 40 millimetres of rain at the track over the last week.