Must One Wash Netilat Yadayim if He Went to Sleep Early and Woke Up Before Hasot?

If a person went to sleep in the evening, and woke up for the day before Hasot (halachic midnight), must he wash Netilat Yadayim, and, if so, does he recite a Beracha over this washing? This can happen if a person's job requires working a nightshift, and so he sleeps in the early evening hours and wakes up before midnight. Another example is a person who sleeps for a few hours before Hasot on the night of Hoshana Rabba or Shabuot so he will be able to remain awake throughout the night. Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (founding Rebbe of Lubavitch, 1745-1812) writes that a person is considered "newly created" upon waking in the morning only if he was sleeping at the moment of midnight. If, however, he slept and woke up before Hasot, then he does not experience "re-creation" that would require Netilat Yadayim. Rav Shneur Zalman concluded that one should nevertheless wash his hands in this case, but without reciting a Beracha. The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), however, in Parashat Toledot, writes that the person in this case indeed recites a Beracha over the washing. This seems surprising, given the aforementioned view of Rav Shneur Zalman, which would seemingly warrant applying the famous rule of "Safek Berachot Le'hakel" – that we do not recite a Beracha when it is uncertain whether it is required. The Kaf Ha'haim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Jerusalem, 1870-1939) suggests that since the common custom is to wash with a Beracha when one wakes before Hasot, this accepted practice overrides the rule of "Safek Berachot Le'hakel." As for the final Halacha, it is best for a person in this case to wash Netilat Yadayim without a Beracha, but if he wishes to recite the Beracha, he may, in accordance with the ruling of the Ben Ish Hai. Summary: If a person went to sleep in the evening and woke up before Hasot, then he should wash Netilat Yadayim without reciting a Beracha, though there is room to allow reciting a Beracha in this case if one wishes.