28 November 2023 , 12:41
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A horse jointly owned by top golfer Lee Westwood has been denied the chance to take on superstar jumper Constitution Hill on Saturday.
Voix Du Reve has run in the last four editions of the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle, finishing fourth twice and sixth twice.
But the 11-year-old will not line up at Newcastle this weekend because his 120 rating is below the 130 rating cut-off to be eligible to run.
It means the field for the £115,000 race will be contested by no more than five runners for which champion Constitution Hill is a 1-6 favourite.
Westwood, who is expected to attend the meeting where he and Armstrong have four other horses entered, made his own comment on the situation on X.
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“Doesn’t everyone love 3 runner fields?” he said.
Armstrong, who is involved in ten horses with the golfer, said: “We all knew the rating for the race was 130 and above, but it used to be 130 and above and 'at the handicapper’s discretion'.
“This horse has won two Grade 1s and he’s ran in the Fighting Fifth four times now. I can understand they wouldn’t want a 75 or 80–rated horse in it, but when you’re talking about one that’s been there, got the t-shirt and always puts his best step forward in that race, I was disappointed when I got the message he wouldn’t get a run.”
Voix Du Reve, who enjoyed top level success when trained by Willie Mullins, has taken his win record to nine since bought by Armstrong and Westwood and put in training with Iain Jardine.
Voix Du Reve (right) winning at Ayr in April (PA)Armstrong, who lives in nearby Blyth, added: “Would they knock Blyth Spartans out of the FA Cup to play Man City? No, they wouldn’t. That’s where I am coming from.
“I wouldn’t enter him if I didn’t think he could finish in the frame. I think it will be a four runner race.
“Is that what the public wants in a Grade 1 race on Newcastle’s biggest day of the year? I don’t think so.”