Lavelle sings Paisley Park praises after turbo-charged Ascot success
Paisley Park had his connections jumping for joy as he produced a power-packed finish to re gain his Porsche Long Walk Hurdle crown at Ascot.
Emma Lavelle's 2019 Stayers' Hurdle winner looked beaten turning for home as he got caught out of his ground leaving the back straight.
At the head of affairs, Thyme Hill and Roksana were still apparently going powerfully, and Paisley Park looked to need a minor miracle.
Aidan Coleman went into overdrive jumping the last, but still seemed to have a mountain to climb - with Thyme Hill, who had seen off Roksana, looking sure to collect.
But Paisley Park (9-4), who is well known for his strong finishes, picked up impressively in the testing conditions to win by a neck, reversing form with the Philip Hobbs-trained runner-up from the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury.
The result is even more meritorious, considering Paisley Park was found to be suffering from a fibrillating heart when he was beaten at Cheltenham in March.
L ave ll es aid :" I think I' m more concerned about my heart now than his!
"I can't wait to get home and watch the race, because it looked a good one, but I had my eyes on him the whole way - wondering if he was going to get there. I never thought he was beaten, just because I know what he is like, and then the turbo kicked in - which is quite apt, given the race was sponsored by Porsche this year. He's cheeky because he pricked his ears on crossing the line as if to say 'I've done that now, thanks' - he's a special horse. We love horses that come back - they are great for racing and really help sell it."
Not So Sleepy repeated his front-running tactics to win the Betfair Exchange Trophy for the second year running.
Hughie Morrison' s talented dual-purpose performer has been called a few names in recent months because of his antics on more than one occasion.
He has been reluctant to race in the past and only recently decided to unseat his jockey at the first flight in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, before running loose and carrying out Silver Streak at the next.
Ironic ally Silver Streak' s jockey at Newcastle was Tom O'brien, yet this time he got the leg-up off Morrison in the Ascot pad dock-hoping the 20-1 chance would behave himself.
To his credit Not So Sleepy then never put a foot wrong, and nobody has ever denied his talent.
Having strung the field out, he began to tire having jumped the last - but O'brien had saved just enough and held off top weight Buzz by a length and three-quarters.
The feature at Hay dock was the Bet fair Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase, which saw Sam's Adventure bounce back to form with a strong staying performance in very testing conditions. Produced by Brian Hughes to lead at the final fence, the Brian Ellison-trained eight-yearold galloped on resolutely to take the prize by four lengths from Sojourn, in what was an attritional affair.
The win completed a 149-1 double for Hughes, following his earlier success on Albert's Back.