'Unique' veteran Not So Sleepy cashes in on Constitution Hill absence to become oldest winner of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle

Every morning two individuals wake up in a small Berkshire village and try to out-think each other.

On one side there is Hughie Morrison, a trainer with nearly 30 years of experience and multiple top-level victories. On the other is Not So Sleepy, the decade-long tormentor of his handler.

Morrison, backed by the unwavering support of Not So Sleepy’s owner-breeders Lord and Lady Blyth, concocts different methods to get the 11-year-old to train in the manner of a sensible and obedient racehorse; and then Not So Sleepy decides whether he will oblige or dissent.

Yet, the challenge is one Morrison and his staff, led by Not So Sleepy’s groom and rider Selvaraj Rasiah, embrace. On days such as this one at Sandown, it is all too easy to see why they do so as the wise old chestnut with the big white blaze focused his abundant talent into competing.

In doing so, Not So Sleepy won his second Fighting Fifth Hurdle – having dead-heated with Epatante in 2021 – and earned himself the extra honour of becoming the oldest winner of the Grade 1 in its 54-year history.

“He’s just a legend, he’s unique,” Morrison said. “Raj has been with me for 15 years and rides him every day and gets run away with every day. It’s Not So Sleepy's tenth season racing and he hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm. 

“Every day I come down and I can see how he is, and I can try and think about what’s the best thing to do with him. That’s a challenge I enjoy. You can’t take him to half the gallops as he will plant himself but he’s intelligent and when he wants to do it he’s supremely talented – you just don’t know how good he actually is. 

“I do feel I tend to overthink things with the horses. I have 50 horses and with that number I can train them individually and I make sure every horse is doing the right thing for them. He’s given me plenty of grey hairs over the years but days like this make racing such a great game.

"You can see why Nicky didn’t want to turn up, can’t you?! That was a proper Grade 1 and when conditions are right he’s still a Grade 1 horse. This was the race we aimed for and it’s great for the team. We’re thrilled.”

Not So Sleepy: recorded his 11th career win more than nine years after his firstCredit: Getty Images

Thinking about race tactics for the Fighting Fifth became significantly easier for Morrison, the Blyths and jockey Sean Bowen after Constitution Hill and Shishkin were withdrawn from the rearranged race by trainer Nicky Henderson due to the heavy ground. 

Having sat on the hindquarters of Goshen for much of the race, Not So Sleepy moved through to lead at the penultimate hurdle. He briefly looked like a sitting duck to the rallying You Wear It Well and the strong-finishing Love Envoi, but this time Not So Sleepy would not be denied.

“I always thought I was going to win because he kept pulling out more,” Bowen said. “He’s amazing and I’ve got massive appreciation for the team for letting me ride him. Grade 1 winners don’t come along very often. He’s quirky but is a good character and has plenty of ability.”

Another year of trying to outfox each other awaits for Not So Sleepy and Morrison, who paid tribute to the patience and achievements of the Blyths, whose Quickthorn landed the Group 1 Goodwood Cup in August.

“They’re patient and not many people are left like that – people give up on horses if they haven’t reached a certain level as a two- or three-year-old so you end up training them the wrong way because of that,” Morrison said. “To breed and own a Group 1 winner on the Flat and a Grade 1 winner over jumps in the same year is some achievement.”

Read these next:

'It's impossible' - Sandown loss is Kempton's gain as Nicky Henderson reroutes superstar pair Constitution Hill and Shishkin 

Jonbon battles to a fifth Grade 1 win in the Tingle Creek but Champion Chase odds left unchanged  

Get set for the jumps! Join Members' Club now with 50% off 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.