Is this the horse to dethrone Paisley Park? Fry excited about Cleeve Hurdle bid

Harry Fry is looking forward to pitching his up-and-coming staying star If The Cap Fits against Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham later this month.

If The Cap Fits, winner of the Grade 1 Ryanair Stayers Hurdle at Aintree last March, produced an even better performance on figures on his seasonal reappearance in November when beating Call Me Lord by half a length in an Ascot Grade 2.

Watch If The Cap Fits win a second Ascot Hurdle in November

The eight-year-old missed a subsequent engagement before Christmas on the grounds of Fry not being 100 per cent happy with him, but he is firmly on course for a showdown with last year’s Stayers' Hurdle hero.

"If The Cap Fits is on target for the Cleeve Hurdle at the end of the month," Fry said. "It will be his first run at Cheltenham and should give him invaluable experience in a potential clash with Paisley Park.

"They have not faced each other yet, but the clash is going to happen sooner or later. If The Cap Fits is within 3lb of Paisley Park on official ratings and it promises to be a fascinating clash."

The red-hot trainer has sent out ten winners from his last 25 runners, a resurgence which he hopes will continue well into the spring.

"I’m much happier with how things have been going lately," he said. "We took a while to get going this season and everyone has worked very hard to turn things round. Our recent results are a credit to the entire team."

Paisley Park, hot favourite to defend his Stayers' Hurdle crown, is also reported to be in good shape by trainer Emma Lavelle.

"Paisley Park did a bit of work this morning," she said. "I'm very happy with him."

Unowhatimeanharry and Mark Walsh win the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Fry also revealed that his four-time Grade 1-winning stable stalwart Unowhatimeanharry, who landed the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown at the age of 11 last spring, could make his next appearance in the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock next month.

"He's in really good order," Fry said. "He was no match for Apple's Jade in a Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas just before his 12th birthday, but ran very well to finish second.

"He may go to the Rendlesham and then back to Punchestown. As long as he's competitive and happy we'll keep running him."

Expert view

Betting editor Keith Melrose assesses the chances of If The Cap Fits

It is understandable to get excited about a clash between If The Cap Fits and Paisley Park. It has been quite a while since the champion faced a worthy rival and that is what the Liverpool Hurdle winner represents.

On form, that is all he will be, as Paisley Park has 5lb in hand on RPRs and Cheltenham suits him ideally.

The two factors If The Cap Fits has in his favour are a less exposed profile and a bit more of a change of gear. It is doubtful that Paisley Park, who tends to hit a flat spot, could have won the Ascot Hurdle like he did, so a tactical race would certainly make things interesting.

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