PARK READY TO STROLL IT
PAISLEY PARK has come of age this season and now possesses all the attributes required to capture the Thursday feature.
His exploits as a novice hurdler did not foretell superstardom – the Emma Lavelle seven-year-old followed a win at Hereford with three defeats, including a well-beaten 13th behind Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle last March.
But Paisley Park has taken his form to a whole new level this term, beginning with valuable handicap hurdles scores at Aintree and Haydock.
Emma Lavelle (right) then stepped the son of Oscar up to Grade 1 company for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot three days before Christmas.
The result was a first top-tier triumph for the trainer and jockey Aidan Coleman, with West Approach (second), Top Notch (third), The Mighty Don (fourth) behind and Sam Spinner unseating at the second flight.
The question gnawing away in Lavelle’s mind was whether Paisley Park could show his best at Cheltenham – and he gave an emphatic response in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over this afternoon’s course and distance on Trials Day in January.
Carrying a 6lb penalty for his Ascot exploits, my selection hit a flat spot – much like star stayers Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s – before storming up the hill for a 12-length humbling of West Approach, who in turn completed ahead of third Black Op, fourth Sam Spinner, seventh Wholestone and 10th home, The Mighty Don.
It’s hard to see a flaw in Paisley Park – especially given that there may be more to come.
As concerns the minor medals, Kilbricken Storm, back over hurdles and a commanding winner as a novice last March, makes appeal, as does 2018 runner-up Supasundae, with Bacardys, Top Notch and Faugheen other names to throw into the mix.