Golden Ace Wins Fighting Fifth as Favorites Fall

Golden Ace capitalized on a chaotic BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday, surging to victory in the Grade One contest after favorites Constitution Hill and The New Lion both fell. The 22-1 shot, trained by Jeremy Scott and ridden by Lorcan Williams, held off Anzadam by two and a half lengths, with Nemean Lion finishing third as the only other completer in the five-runner field. The race, which drew Newcastle's largest attendance for jump racing in two decades, unfolded before a stunned crowd in under three minutes.

Constitution Hill, the 6-4 market leader trained by Nicky Henderson and partnered by Nico de Boinville, cleared the first hurdle cleanly but misjudged the second, crashing to the ground in a repeat of recent misfortunes. The eight-year-old, seeking to rebuild after a fall and a poor finish in his last three starts last season, had shown promise in a recent gallop. Moments later, The New Lion, who had inherited the lead under Harry Skelton, stumbled and fell at the penultimate flight while accelerating away. Both horses were reported unscathed by their connections, with initial checks confirming no serious injuries.

Golden Ace, last season's Champion...