Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Put trust in Cyrname
SHOULD Cyrname fail to secure back-to-back wins in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby today it will be something of a surprise.
Paul Nicholls’ nine-year-old had questions to answer when he tackled the Grade Two affair last season, having failed to build on his famous defeat of Altior in November 2019 and eventually suffering a heavy fall the following February.
Cyrname rose to the occasion in Yorkshire a year ago, with a cosy win seemingly signalling his career was back on track.
However, there are again plenty of question marks this time around – because after that convincing victory, Cyrname’s season was derailed once more as he pulled up in both the King George VI Chase and when a short-priced favourite for the Ascot Chase.
It was later reported that he suffered from a breathing issue that day, and has subsequently undergone surgery – with his connections keeping fingers firmly crossed it will have done the trick.
Cyrname is 9lb clear of his rivals on the official ratings, and if he turns up anywhere near his best he will not be topped.
Paisley Park is on a similar retrieval mission, in the bet365 Hurdle. The former staying champ showed plenty of his old sparkle remains last term, chasing home Thyme Hill when conceding weight before reversing that form with victory in the Long Walk Hurdle en route to Cheltenham’s Festival.
He was not disgraced in third behind all-the-way winner
Flooring Porter in the Stayers’ Hurdle, but that race seemed to have left its mark as Paisley Park ran very flat at Aintree – and jockey Aidan Coleman was quick to pull him up when it became obvious it was not going to be his day.
Emma Lavelle has reported her stable star to be as well as ever at home, so the hope is he can transfer that to the track.
Molly Ollys Wishes can pick up where she left off last year, in the bet365 Mares’ Hurdle.
She made swift progress through the ranks last term, rising from a mark of 124 to 145.