'He's still got it' - Emma Lavelle heaps praise on gallant Paisley Park

Connections of Paisley Park believe they have unfinished business after the ten-year-old rallied late to claim third behind Flooring Porter in the Stayers' Hurdle at his fifth Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Emma Lavelle said this year's Cleeve Hurdle winner was as good as ever when finishing a nose behind Thyme Hill and she could aim him at next month's Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown.

"He won't go to Aintree but who knows about Ireland," said owner Andrew Gemmell. "It's great to be back and I was chuffed with how he went through the race. He hit his same old flat spot, but he came through it and stayed on so strongly I thought he finished second."

Stayers' Hurdle: full result and race replay

Lavelle was similarly full of praise for her stable star and said there was no reason why he would not be kept in training next season.

"He's run his heart out and was definitely fastest up the hill. The form has stood up all season as it's been the same horses coming to the fore in Britain and Ireland. We've got closer to Flooring Porter this season, which is great, and he was good as gold at the start.

"We're not done with him yet. His form wasn't far off where it has been. We were in a much better position than last season. He had the run in the Cleeve, which he needed. He's getting older but he's still got it. He's been pretty much as good as he's ever been.

"He's something else. This is his fifth festival and Cheltenham plays to his strengths. He's the one that's galloping away up the hill. He just wants that ultimate test of stamina. He needs to grow a longer nose though, as that was how far he was away from being second."

Emma Lavelle: alongside Paisley Park after his Cleeve Hurdle successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Thyme Hill finished two and three-quarter lengths behind Flooring Porter, and his trainer Philip Hobbs said: "Maybe today he was a little more outpaced than normal at the top of the hill but he stayed well.

"He's run well and I hope he runs again this season. He might want a bit longer after that, so we might think about going to Punchestown rather than Aintree. We'll have to see how he is in the next week."

If he does line up at Aintree, Thyme Hill could take on Champ, who took fourth by a length ahead of the 11-4 favourite Klassical Dream.

"He's run a sweeter race than in the Cleeve," said Nicky Henderson. "We came to the conclusion his first run of the year is always his best and I tried to convince him this was his first run. I've totally undercooked him. He travelled like he did when winning at Ascot.

"He could go to Aintree rather than Punchestown. I'd have thought he will stay over hurdles, but we've got plenty of time to decide."

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