Constitution Hill setback opens door for Not So Sleepy to become the oldest ever winner of the Champion Hurdle

CONSTITUTION HILL’S health scare may have opened the door for Not So Sleepy to become the oldest ever Champion Hurdle winner.

But the 12-year-old’s trainer Hughie Morrison playfully pointed out: “I’d rather the dirty scope happened on the morning of the race when there were just a few of us running!”

If Nicky Henderson’s superstar, who is receiving antibiotics for a mild lung infection following his disastrous gallop at Kempton, does not make the Champion Hurdle the race will be thrown wide-open.

There are currently 18 entries for the big race, and a good proportion of those could take their chance, even with State Man taking over as a short-priced favourite.

The likes of Irish Point and Lossiemouth, who were almost certain to head elsewhere, could potentially be rerouted for the feature on day one of the Festival.

No matter what happens, Fighting Fifth Hurdle hero Not So Sleepy will be there, and Sean Bowen will keep the ride having taken over from Johnny Burke at Sandown in December.

And Morrison says the old boy is in flying form as he attempts to beat the joint-record of Hatton’s Grace and Sea Pigeon, who won the Champion at the age of 11.

He said: “I feel desperately sorry for Nicky, he has done what’s best by the horse all year and then this happens at a very bad time.

“That’s the life of a trainer - it’s a wonder we aren’t all taken away by men in white coats at the end of our careers.

“I know we have a runner in the race, but in a way I’m pretty disappointed as I’m a purist, I want to see the best run and take on the best.

“I tell you, these public gallops are a very bad idea! But Nicky and his team have dealt with the fallout very well.

“Every horse is different so it’s difficult to say what chance he has to make it there, some horses get over this stuff in a few days and others take longer.

“Not So Sleepy is flying at home but I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot because it’s a very viral time of year with the weather starting to warm up.

“He had a spin at Lambourn last week and went really well, we are just ticking him over now until the Festival.

“If Constitution doesn’t run it could open it up to several horses who probably wouldn’t have run before, but then again it also makes the race more winnable for us.”

Not So Sleepy is a 12-1 shot for the Champion Hurdle, for which the betting had been thrown into disarray following the news of Constitution Hill's setback.

Hendo's runner and State Man are both odds-on with a number of firms, with an update expected from Seven Barrows later this week.

Remember to gamble responsibly

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed