WETHERBY are to stage the WBX.COM ‘‘Fighting Fifth’’ Hurdle on Saturday after the Grade One race was lost when Newcastle was abandoned because of frost at the weekend.

The five-day entries will stand and the race will not be re-opened. The ten possibles included dual winner Harchibald, 2007 Champion Hurdle hero Sublimity and Nicky Henderson’s Grade One Punchestown winner Punjabi.

The ‘‘Fighting Fifth’’ will also remain the first leg of the WBX.COM Triple Crown which could see connections net £1m if Saturday’s winner goes on to land the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Iain Turner, PR Manager for WBX.COM, said: ‘‘It was always our intention to run the race and thanks to the support of all parties I am delighted to announce this decision.

‘‘At this stage I would like to thank Blue Square who sponsor the card at Wetherby for allowing us run the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle on their day.

‘‘We were devastated after the race meeting was abandoned on Saturday but thankfully a suitable decision for all parties has been found.

‘‘The race remains in the North of England and hopefully we can see a truly top-class race and that the punters from the North will come out and support us.

‘‘The prize money has still to be announced but WBX.COM will be contributing a significant sum to try and ensure we get the same field we were looking forward to having at Newcastle.’’ Sublimity appears set to make the journey back across the Irish Sea as his new trainer Robbie Hennessy seeks to send out his first-ever runner.

‘‘At the moment, we’re definitely running,’’ said Hennessy.

‘‘I just want to give Sublimity a bit of work in the morning and as long as I am happy with him, I’ll look to taking him back over.

‘‘He was quite lucky as we were able to get him back early on Saturday and he was back in his box at nine o’clock on Saturday evening. He took it all well.’’ The British Horseracing Authority have confirmed the race will be run at 1.45pm with a total prize fund of £60,000.

■ Roll Along will bid for compensation in Friday’s Future Stars Chase at Sandown after his form was given quite a boost over the weekend.

Carl Llewellyn intended to send his gelding to Newcastle last Saturday for the WBX.COM Rehearsal Chase before the meeting was abandoned but there was still good news when he watched the Hennessy Gold Cup.

Air Force One, from the stable of fellow Lambourn trainer Charlie Mann, was beaten four lengths by Roll Along in the United House Gold Cup at Ascot but ran another mighty race at Newbury to finish second to Madison Du Berlais.

Llewellyn said: ‘‘I heard they might to try to run the Rehearsal at Chepstow at the weekend but it would probably be soft there and I think he will probably run at Sandown on Friday.’’ Reflecting on Air Force One’s effort, the trainer continued: ‘‘I was pleased.

Charlie did say his horse would improve for the run at Ascot.”