Not So Sleepy

Not So Sleepy out-ran his odds by a fair way by finishing fourth in the Bet365 Handicap over a mile and six furlongs. Settled back in mid-division early on, he was a little keen through the early stages of the race, and he was further back than ideal as they rounded the turn. He travelled strongly up the home straight, maybe even a little too strongly, but he tried to angle out on the run to the three-furlong marker. He didn’t really get into the clear until the run to the furlong marker and, when he did, he stayed on strongly for PJ McDonald. No better than ninth as they raced inside the final furlong, he ran on strongly on the near side to get up for fourth place. In another 20 yards he possibly would have finished second.

Hughie Morrison’s horse is seven now, but he remains in top form on the evidence of this run, on ground that should have been faster than ideal for him. He had some good form last year, he finished second behind Communique in a 12-furlong handicap at Newbury last September, and he finished second in the November Handicap at Doncaster off a mark of 96. He was racing off a mark of 92 here, and he will be of interest in another good middle-distance handicap now off his new mark of 93. A mile and a half on soft ground is probably close to optimum for him, and he could get that in the November Handicap back at Doncaster this year.

Newmarket, 12^th July 2019