Park can cash in with Thyme out!
IRISH SUCCESS ON ST PATRICK’S DAY IN THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
WITH rival Thyme Hill out, PAISLEY PARK can regain his crown in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (3.05pm), the feature on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Emma Lavelle’s staying star won the Grade One three-mile contest at the 2019 Festival, but could only finish seventh when defending his crown 12 months ago.
Having been on a sevenrace winning run, it appeared that maybe time was catching up with him.
But he returned to action refreshed and although he was beaten by ‘new kid on the block’ Thyme Hill in the Grade Two Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his seasonal return in November, he looked to be getting back to his best.
He was only beaten a length-and-a-quarter and turned the tables on the Philip Hobbs’ seven-year-old at Ascot next time.
Paisley Park beat Thyme Hill by a neck in the Porsche Long Walk Hurdle, showing his battling qualities to get up on the line in the Grade One contest.
It was meant to be the decider, but with Thyme Hill on the sidelines and likely to return at the Randox Grand
National Festival at Aintree Racecourse next month, the path is clear for Paisley Park to score. Paisley Park has three course wins and he can just prevail, with last year’s surprise winner Lisnagar Oscar likely to make the frame at least.
ENVOI ALLEN looks the one they all have to beat in the opener on the third day, the Grade One Marsh Novices’ Chase (1.20pm). Formerly trained by the disgraced and banned Gordon Elliott, the seven-year-old is unbeaten in 11 starts and is now in the care of Henry De Bromhead.
The switch to chasing has been a smooth one with three convincing victories. And the move to a new stable won’t change anything as Envoi Allen can win at the Festival for a third year in a row.
Another former winner here, IMPERIAL AURA, can score again in the Grade One Ryanair Chase (2.30pm). Kim Bailey’s eight-year-old won the Listed Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase last year. And he would be a warm favourite here if he had completed a hat-trick of wins this season at Kempton last time.
But an uncharacteristic error at the second fence in the Grade Two Silviniaco Novices’ Chase in January saw him unseat David Bass.
That was a surprise as he is a fine jumper. If there is no loss of confidence – and there shouldn’t be – from that mishap, he can land back-toback wins at the Festival.
Warren Greatrex’s BOB MAHLER was third in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Sponsored by the JRL Group) (4.50pm) last year.
He may be able to go a couple of places better this time.
He is 3lb lower than last year’s handicap mark and made a return to the form when third in the four-mile Edinburgh Grand National at Musselburgh – a race he won 12 months ago – recently.
Bob Mahler is a real dour stayer and if he can build on that recent run he will be in the mix again, with Grand National entrant Deise Aba one of the chief dangers.
CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM can win the ultra-competitive Grade Three Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (1.55pm), with Irish raider The Bosses Oscar also in the mix.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained A WAVE OF THE SEA can back up his 2m 1f handicap victory at Leopardstown with another, stepped up to 2m4f in the Grade Three Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (3.40pm).
Jonathan Sweeney’s ROSEYS HOLLOW, can bring up a third straight win in the Grade Two Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (4.15pm).
PUT The Kettle On (17-2) carried on trainer Henry De Bromhead’s and Ireland’s superb start to the Festival with a battling victory in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
On St Patrick’s Day, under Aidan Coleman the seven-year-old became the first mare in history to win the Grade One feature on the second day at Prestbury Park.
De Bromhead, whose Honeysuckle helped Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to win the Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the meeting, was at it again having his third win of this year’s Festival and a third in the Champion Chase.
Having won the opener, the Ballymore
Novices’ Hurdle with favourite Bob Olinger under Blackmore, De Bromhead doubled up to deny Willie Mullins’s 8-13 favourite Chacun Pour Soi – who was third.
It was the fourth straight win for Irish-trained runners on the second day – Tiger Roll and Sir Gerhard brought up and fifth and sixth success later on – to make it an extra special St Patrick’s Day. Even if the usual exodus from the Emerald Isle couldn’t cheer them on with the Festival going ahead behind-closeddoors due to the pandemic.
Last year’s winner Politologue was a late absentee, withdrawn on veterinary advice, seemingly leaving Chacun Pour Soi with the chance to provide his trainer Mullins with a first victory in the Champion Chase.
But it didn’t work out like that, as Put The Kettle On – along with Rouge Vif – cut out much of the running in the two-mile contest.
Rouge Vif faded coming over the last two fences, but as the challengers appeared – including Chacun Pour Soi – on the heels of the leader, Put The Kettle On galloped on determinedly.
The mare, who had won the Arkle Chase over course and distance at last year’s Festival, held on by half-alength from Nube Negra (11-1).
De Bromhead, who has won the Champion Chase with Sizing Europe (2011) and Special Tiara (2017), said: “She’s an incredible mare, I’m delighted for the owners, it’s just brilliant, the stuff you dream about.
“She’s so tough and Aidan was brilliant on her. He really asked her at the last three and that probably won him the race.
“I don’t know what it is about this place. A couple of weeks ago she just wasn’t herself, but we freshened her up as much as we could and she seemed much better. When she arrived here she was what we expected. She’s a bit mad actually.
“I have to congratulate everyone at home, but especially Andrea who looks after her and puts up with her antics every day, it’s special for her. She’s quite wild at home, she’s a great character. Mid-February I was probably leaning towards running in the Mares’ Chase, but we all discussed it and I looked at the stats for the previous year’s Arkle winner in this and they are ridiculous so we said we’d give it a lash and see.
“Winning the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase with mares especially, it’s the stuff of dreams. I’m just delighted.”