Fairytale win for Paisley Park and blind owner
Gutsy stayer flies up hill to grab glory It has been a dream trip, says Gemmell
Thursday is meant to be the quiet day at the Festival, a chance to take a deep breath, but on what turned out to be a day when even the reserve handkerchief found employment, within an hour of Bryony Frost’s emotional victory on Frodon, Paisley Park had completed the meeting’s Hans Christian Andersenscripted double.
Emma Lavelle’s sevenyear-old, once so sick it looked like he would never come home from the vet, had just won the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle for his owner Andrew Gemmell, who has been blind since birth.
Compared to the frontrunning Frodon, Paisley Park’s racing style is in complete contrast, but the end result is equally effective.
Turning into the home straight, the 11-8 shot, one of the best-backed horses of the meeting, looked a lost cause with eight lengths to make up on Sam Spinner, who was never going to stop, and Faugheen, a former Champion Hurdle winner.
The impressive late surge is becoming Paisley Park’s trademark and, within a matter of strides, he and Aidan Coleman had not only gathered in the two leaders but were already a length up Dream come true: Andrew Gemmell celebrates his success
when he plunged through the last flight, his only mistake. It did not stop him.
From thereon up the hill, he was just doing enough to beat Sam Spinner by 2¾ lengths with four more back to a brave Faugheen. His pricked ears suggested that there is a lot more in the tank if Paisley Park ever needs it.
“It’s been a dream trip,” said Gemmell, one of sport’s greatest fans but now in the very thick of the action. “It was great, wasn’t it? I still had hope turning in because we know that is the way he runs. But I cannot believe it has actually happened.” Speaking about his horse, he said: “In the words of Prince [after whose home he named Paisley Park] ‘nothing compares to you’.”
The result was also huge for Lavelle, whose 20-year career has lacked a champion. Likewise, it was about time for Coleman. A career, spanning nearly 1,000 winners had lacked a marquee Festival success. Indeed, it was 10 years since the jockey rode his only previous Festival winner, Kayf Aramis.
“It is amazing,” said Lavelle. “People are giving three cheers for Paisley Park. I was thinking he was too far out of his ground, but Aidan knew what he had. Those real true stayers always travel off the bridle then come through. If the will of the people was anything to go by, he would win – they would have blown him up the hill.
“There was a tannoy in direct line of the last where I was watching from so I never saw the mistake. When I saw it on the replay I thought it was maybe not ideal but Aidan said, apart from that, it was the best he has jumped. What a special, special horse. I felt very calm until the start when I wanted to burst into tears.”
Lavelle’s husband, the former jockey Barry Fenton, said: “The horse is very laid back but, though I’d have been the first person to drop a horse out and creep through a race, I thought he was too far out of his ground. But Aidan said he still got there too soon.”
The Cork-born but England-based Coleman said: “You are never expecting to go around on the bridle on Paisley Park but that’s what makes him such a good horse. It is the Stayers’ Hurdle and what he does is stay – exceptionally well.
“That allows him, when he hits the hill, to really finish. Though you would like to be going better down the hill you know when you hit the rising ground you are going to get there. He is a fantastic horse to be associated with – I am living the dream.
“I couldn’t see him being beaten all week but I couldn’t believe the relief when I crossed the line. This has certainly filled a few missing pieces in the jigsaw and the one thing for sure is that I won’t be waiting another 10 years for my next winner – I’ll be long retired by then!”
The first thing Joe Colliver should do when his rearranged court appearance on a drink-driving charge is held is thank the magistrate for allowing him to ride Sam Spinner yesterday – and hope he was on each-way. “He jumped great all the way,” said Colliver. “He only missed the last. He answered my every call but was beaten by a better horse on the day.”