after a ten-month break, (he had injured his ribs when "rolling in the paddock") fiveforthree returned to compete novice hurdle races, making his first appearance over obstacles at fairyhouse on 13 february 2008. ridden by ruby walsh he started 8/13 favourite in a field of sixteen runners. he jumped poorly at the last two hurdles but accelerated into the lead near the finish and won "comfortably" by three lengths from wheels up. on 14 march, with ruby walsh again in the saddle, fiveforthree was one of fifteen novices to contest the grade i ballymore properties novices' hurdle over two and a half miles at the cheltenham festival. he was the 7/1 fourth choice in the betting behind the former flat runners aigle d'or and group captain and the deloitte novice hurdle winner forpadydeplasterer. fiveforthree was restrained at the back of the field in the early stages before moving into contention at the third last hurdle. he took the lead at the last and held off the challenge of the mouse morris-trained venalmar to win by a neck. after the race, mullins explained "i thought when he won at fairyhouse we would go for the supreme, but i looked at his pedigree and discovered there was plenty of stamina in it. combined with the fact that ruby was available, it tempted me to switch to the ballymore".