PAISLEY PARK

is “bouncing” ahead of his bid for a Cleeve Hurdle hat-trick on Cheltenham’s Trials card a fortnight on Saturday.

The nine-year-old, who won the Grade 2 contest ahead of his Stayers’ Hurdle success in 2019 – and before his failed title defence last March – was back in winning form when capturing the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot for the second time six days before Christmas.

“He’s absolutely bouncing, and the Cleeve is very much his next race,” Paisley Park’s trainer Emma Lavelle, fresh from saddling 66-1 shot Boreham Bill to victory in Saturday’s Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton, reported yesterday.

“He was an odds-on favourite for the Stayers Hurdle [when seventh to Lisnagar Oscar] last year and then he had a heart issue, so I think when they’re well and in good form, he should go to the races.

“He’s just turned nine – he should be in his prime.”