held up off the pace in last, pushed along and headway on inside approaching 2 out, 3rd when mistake and stumbled 2 out, went 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
reluctant to line up and started slowly, soon recovered to lead and set good pace, jumped slowly and joined 3rd, jumped slowly 4 out, narrowly headed next, chased winner under strong pressure until approaching 2 out, weakened between last two
tracked leading pair, pushed along on inside before 2 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden and well held soon after, lost 2nd and plugged on in 3rd run-in
held up in 4th, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next
bit keen tracking leader, led narrowly 3 out, 4 lengths ahead next, always doing enough
A race-fit Not So Sleepy and EPATANTE dead-heated in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and meet on the same terms here. The latter won this in 2019 but was only second behind the ill-fated Silver Streak in this 12 months ago, though then placed behind Honeysuckle at Cheltenham and Punchestown and is still a very smart performer on her day. Tritonic won a valuable handicap at Ascot last week and has also won around here. He is rated 7lb higher than Glory And Fortune but 2lb lower than Soaring Glory, who didn’t show his true form when last of four at Newbury after winning at Ascot in October - last season’s Supreme Novices’ fourth is certainly no mug.
Glory And Fortune (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Towards rear, headway into 6th before 3 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on but not pace to challenge, 4th of 11, 14 3/4l behind Earlofthecotswolds (10-13) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Not So Sleepy 18-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, led and hit 2 out, not fluent and headed last, rallied flat, joined leader post, won at Newcastle 2m (1) gs in Nov beating Epatante (11-0), 6 ran.
Soaring Glory (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Held up in last, in touch, not fluent 4th and 2 out, soon ridden, not pace to challenge, last of 4, 4 1/2l behind Onemorefortheroad (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Tritonic 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway to chase front group after 3 out, pressed leaders before 2 out, ridden and led narrowly before last, driven out and stayed on strongly, won at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec beating Onemorefortheroad (10-9) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Epatante (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Held up, closed 4th, not much room and switched right before 2 out, led last, ridden flat, joined post, won at Newcastle 2m (1) gs in Nov beating Not So Sleepy (11-7), 6 ran.
