Love Envoi is set to clash with star hurdler Constitution Hill in Saturday’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Love Envoi is set to clash with star hurdler Constitution Hill in Saturday's Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Harry Fry has not swerved the tough option for one of the stable flagbearers, choosing to take on Nicky Henderson's charge with the advantage of a mares' allowance.

Winner of the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2022, Love Envoi returned twelve months later with an excellent second behind Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle. The mare will be making her seasonal reappearance in the Fighting Fifth.

"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," Fry 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, syndicate manager] 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."

Love Envoi is currently a 5/1 shot against Constitution Hill for Saturday's Fighting Fifth.