NOT SO SLEEPY TRIUMPHS IN FIGHTING FIFTH
Owner-breeders Lord and Lady Blyth’s NOT SO SLEEPY (GB) bore their blue and tartan silks when becoming the oldest winner ever of the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday. This was Not So Sleepy’s 11th career success and his second Grade 1 Fighting Fifth victory for trainer Hughie Morrison.
The eleven-year-old dual-purpose gelding was born at the Blyths’ Lemington Grange Stud and is out of their unraced mare, PAPILLON DE BRONZE, and by the Juddmonte Farms-bred BEAT HOLLOW (GB). The stud was nominated for the Thorougbred Breeders’ Association Langham Cup – Small Breeder of the Year award earlier in the year.
Lady Blyth told ITV Racing after the win:
“I was surprised when nobody even thought about him in this race today. He was such big odds this morning. He was huge.
“I wanted to retire him this season, and perhaps run on the flat, but Hughie persuaded me to have another go at this.
“It is absolutely brilliant. We will watch the replays over and over again I expect.”
Lord and Lady Blyth enjoyed earlier success in the summer when their homebred QUICKTHORN (GB) gave them their first Group 1 victory in the Goodwood Cup, also for trainer Morrison.
Not So Sleepy’s lengthy and versatile career has seen him win at both the 2017 Derby Festival and the Dubai Duty Free International Weekend in September at Newbury.
He is currently entered in the Exchange Trophy at Ascot Racecourse on the 23rd December, a race he won in 2019 and 2020.