JOHNSON OUT FOR REVENGE

FORMER champion jockey Richard Johnson let out a cry of frustration as his mount Thyme Hill was caught in the final strides of Saturday’s Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot by Paisley Park. He clearly thought he had the Grade One prize in the bag and probably spent the drive back to his Herefordshire home planning what he’ll do next time. Having come out on top when the pair clashed in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month, the score between Paisley Park and Thyme Hill stands at 1-1, so the next time the pair meet will be eagerly anticipated. I would have ridden Thyme Hill exactly how Richard did. Maybe he felt he could have pushed Thyme Hill a bit harder sooner going to the last to pinch another half-length advantage. But next time he might be thinking of when he can get Paisley Park to hit the flat spot which is a feature of his races. Emma Lavelle’s gelding picks up well off a good pace and stays strongly. It could suit Johnson and Philip Hobbs-trained Thyme Hill for the pace to be slower to ensure Paisley Park is left momentarily flat-footed later in a race, getting out of position and with less time to recover. Making that happen is easier said than done unless all of Paisley Park’s other serious rivals think the same. But when the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham comes round, there may be enough in the line-up thinking along the same lines to make it as hard as possible for Paisley Park to get his perfect race set up.