Newcastle Saturday

Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1)

THE Fighting Fifth has produced many memorable finishes since being instituted over 50 years ago, but it produced its first ever dead-heat on Saturday when the judge was unable to split 11/8 favourite Epatante (Nicky Henderson/Aidan Coleman) and 18/1 chance Not So Sleepy (Hughie Morrison/Jonny Burke).

In a thrilling contest, three jumped the last almost together, with Sceau Royal weakening late to be beaten by a length and a half, while Burke conjured a late rally out of Not So Sleepy after he’d lost momentum with sloppy leaps at the last two hurdles.

He had a fitness edge over Epatante after an excellent second on the flat at Doncaster, but he had to dig deep to gain a share of the spoils after the 2020 winner had moved to the front getting away from the final obstacle.

Not So Sleepy has long promised to do this, but he has his quirks, and tried to refuse at the first flight in this race last year, while Epatante was coming back after spinal surgery, so is entitled to build on this.

The highly touted four-year-old Monmiral was soundly beaten, but was subsequently found to be lame, and his bubble has not yet burst despite this flop, for all the race seemed to confirm that Honeysuckle has little to worry about from British rivals as she bids to defend her Champion Hurdle crown.

Rehearsal Chase

Harriet Graham’s Aye Right (Callum Bewley) has been a model of consistency in top staying handicap chases over the past year or so, collecting prize money in the Charlie Hall, Ladbrokes Trophy, SkyBet Chase and Ultima last term, so few will have begrudged him a first win outside novices in the Listed Rehearsal Chase.

The 5/1 shot made much of the running in unpleasant wintry conditions here, and rallied gamely after landing flat-footed over the last to repel the strong challenge of Good Boy Bobby (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Daryl Jacob) by a head.

Dingo Dollar (Sandy Thomson/Ryan Mania), runner-up in the Scottish Grand National in the spring, ran well for third, albeit beaten nine and a half lengths by the winner.

Harriet Graham suggested that the SkyBet Chase at Doncaster in January would again be on the winner’s agenda, but if there is one bone of contention it is the reaction of the handicapper, who has raised the game winner to a career-high mark of 158 despite the fact that he had absolutely nothing left in the locker.

His consistency is hard to knock, but he’d been beaten in five handicap chases off marks ranging from 146-154 prior to this, and it’s hard to argue he should be much higher in the weights after this scrambled success.