THERE could be up to four Irish runners in the Grade 1 Stan James Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle next Saturday.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead, who won the race last year with Identity Thief, plans to send Petit Mouchoir for the two-mile event. That grey finished second in Grade 1 company last season at Aintree and Punchestown. He made a pleasing reappearance when third to Rashaan and Apple’s Jade at Down Royal recently.

Petit Mouchoir is owned by Gigginstown House Stud, as is the Gordon Elliott-trained Apple’s Jade who is also being considered for Newcastle with the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse a week later the alternative.

Shark Hanlon is targeting the Fighting Fifth with 11-year-old stable star Hidden Cyclone. Hanlon had been considering this weekend’s Morgiana Hurdle but explained:”Willie (Mullins) has a very strong hand in the race on Sunday, and the Fighting Fifth can often cut up to a fairly small field. He’s in good form, and it comes at a nice time after his last race.”

Willie Mullins only has one entry for the Newcastle race – the Galway Hurdle winner Clondaw Warrior. The ante-post favourite for the race is the Alan King-trained Sceaux Royal. There will be limited Irish interest in next Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Gigginstown House Stud hold a handful of entries, including Outlander, Empire Of Dirt and Wounded Warrior, but all are understood to have alternative targets.

Heading the market at 7/1 is the Colin Tizzard-trained Native River, followed by Paul Nicholls’ Saphir Du Rheu (10/1), David Pipe’s Un Temps Pour Tout (10/1) and the Rebecca Curtis-trained Ofaolains Boy (12/1). Last year’s winner Smad Place (14/1) will represent the Alan King yard, Blaklion (14/1) runs for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Nicky Henderson is expected to field Vyta Du Roc (14/1).