Fan-favourite Not So Sleepy battled on bravely to ensure his likely final start was a winning one in the Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap at Newbury on Saturday.
The Hughie Morrison -trained twelve-year-old has been a star of the racing world for owner Lady Blyth, proving himself a high-level performer across both codes.
Hughie Morrison's star recorded two Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle victories, including when dead-heating with classy mare Epatante at Newcastle three years ago.
The loveable son of Beat Hollow was ruled out of the Ebor Handicap at York last month due to quick ground, but with heavy conditions to suit at Newbury this afternoon, Not So Sleepy ensured his connections would enjoy one more final swansong.
Sent off a 10/1 chance on what appears to be his final racecourse outing, Not So Sleepy and Tom Marquand took up their customary position at the head of affairs. As was always going to be the case, the challengers lined up as the field turned for home, but one by one, Not So Sleepy turned them away, eventually going on to successfully defend his crown by one and three-quarter lengths from Chillingham, who looked to be travelling best approaching the two-furlong marker.
"He always does it on this sort of ground," said the winning trainer on ITV Racing.
"I said to Tom 'Don't go too far in front, but don't let them get too far ahead of you when they join you. Hollie (Doyle) came past him, and I put my glasses down, but then he came back to them, and he probably won quite easily in the end."
An emotional winning owner Lady Blyth added: "He's beautiful and that was just brilliant. The problem is we don't know what to do with him! He's so independent, he doesn't seem to want to do dressage, showjumping maybe. There's no proper hunting anymore."
She added: "It's very tempting (to carry on) but we wouldn't be able to forgive ourselves should anything go wrong."
