Not So Sleepy wins Betfair Exchange Hurdle at Ascot

Rewind twelve months and trainer Hughie Morrison was talking of a tilt at the Champion Hurdle following Not So Sleepy's pillar-to-post victory in this valuable handicap.

This year, the eight-year-old was sent off as an unconsidered 20/1 shot off the back of a headline making display in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newmarket where he unseated Paddy Brennan when refusing to jump the first before carrying Silver Streak out at the second.

There were no such problems for Tom O'Brien and the pair soon adopted Not So Sleepy's favourite front-running position and the gallop appeared to be strong despite the testing conditions.

One by one the other pacesetters fell by the wayside and by the time the leader turned for home, Lightly Squeeze and the hat-trick seeking Buzz were his nearest pursuers while the well-backed Irish raider Belfast Banter had moved swiftly through the field from rear.

None of that trio could lay a glove on Not So Sleepy though as he kept finding for O'Brien to grind out a remarkable success. The winning margin was a length and three quarters with Buzz his nearest pursuer. Lightly Squeeze stuck to his task to finish third, ahead of a fast-finishing Benson.

A few firms, including Sky Bet and Betfair, paid down to sixth place and Belfast Banter and Oakley were the pair that finished just outside the places.

The winning rider, who was on board Silver Streak in the Fighting Fifth, told ITV Racing: “He cost me a few quid at Newcastle – but he’s paid me back now!

“He has his quirks but he seems to love it here. I thought I was pressing on soon enough, but I didn’t want to disappoint him turning for home. He tried so hard.

“It’s different at the start of a big-field handicap.

“We all wanted him to make the running at Newcastle, but he didn’t want to. Five wanted to make it today, so he had to fight for it.”

Morrison had observed before the race that Not So Sleepy won with a stone in hand last year, and just might have to fight a bit harder this time.

After he had done so, the Berkshire trainer was already planning a second Champion Hurdle attempt this season.

“He’s an absolute star, isn’t he?” he said.

“He’s in good form and was in great form going into Newcastle – it was just that things went slightly wrong there.

“But he didn’t quicken past (Champion Hurdle and Fighting Fifth winner) Epatante for nothing after the last with no jockey, having been halfway round Newcastle.

“So we were hopeful.”

Not So Sleepy’s route back to Cheltenham in March is set to be a quiet one through the remainder of the winter.

Asked about that date, Morrison added: “I think so, probably – we might as well go straight there, no messing around this year.

“I’ll give him a bit of a break – he obviously runs well fresh. We won’t be tempted by any other races, I don’t think.”