PAISLEY ALL THE FASHION
PAISLEY PARK towers above the 14 opponents standing between him and a successful title defence – and cannot sensibly be opposed.
It has been all sunshine and roses since Emma Lavelle’s star stayer walked over the line in 13th place behind Kilbricken Storm in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Seven subsequent visits to the track have yielded seven wins, including when beating Sam Spinner – Bacardys came home in West Approach sixth, with ninth – in this race last year.
Making his return in Newbury’s Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle in November, Aidan Coleman’s mount gave Thistlecrack 6lb and a one-length beating.
A quagmire at Ascot four days before Christmas forced Paisley Park to miss the Marsh Hurdle, giftwrapped for The Worlds L’Ami Serge, End by and a change of plan saw the eight-year-old bypass Cheltenham’s Relkeel Hurdle, in which Summerville Boy beat Emitom Roksana with last of six, on New Year’s Day.
But my selection’s defeat of Summerville Boy for a repeat win in the Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham’s Trials card in January confirmed the reigning champion to be at least as good as ever - and it will rank as a major shock if his colours are lowered today.
Summerville Boy has more to give at three miles and is likely to give the favourite the most to do, with Emitom, back to form at Haydock last time, 2019 City Albert Bartlett hero Island
and progressive Ronald Pump hurdler likely to scrap it out to book their place at the medals ceremony.