If The Cap Fits to miss Paisley Park showdown at Ascot on Saturday

Harry Fry has decided to swerve Saturday's Grade 1 Marsh Hurdle at Ascot with If The Cap Fits, and may wait until the new year to unleash his staying star again.

Winner of the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle on his seasonal reappearance, If The Cap Fits was in line for a fascinating showdown with last season’s Stayers' Hurdle hero Paisley Park, but that clash will have to wait for another day.

Speaking on Monday, Fry explained: “The horse had a hard race when winning at Ascot last month and he's taken a bit more time to get over it than we had anticipated at the time so we decided to not even enter him for Ascot at the weekend.

“He actually seems fine in himself at present but there is no point in going for a Grade 1 prize like the race that used to be the Long Walk unless you are completely happy with everything at this time of the season.”

At Ascot in November If The Cap Fits, who runs in the colours of Paul and Clare Rooney, proved half a length too good for Call Me Lord, who went on to frank the form on Saturday when landing the Grade 2 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Fry said: “It’s a big shame as the form of his Ascot win over Call Me Lord now looks very smart after Saturday as even the sixth home on that occasion, Blu Cavalier, who was beaten over 40 lengths, also won on Saturday at Doncaster.”

Looking ahead, the trainer added: “If The Cap Fits is entered in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown over the Christmas/New Year period and it remains an option of sorts if we are happy with the horse going into the weekend.

“If not, he will wait for the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at the end of January before hopefully heading back for the Stayers' Hurdle at the festival in March and all being well another crack at the Aintree race he won last season.”

Paisley Park: a short-priced favourite to win a second Marsh HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Six horses remain entered for the race, headlined by Paisley Park, who secured his first Group 1 victory in the race last season. Emma Lavelle's stable star is expected to retain his crown, with bookmakers making the seven-year-old the 1-4 favourite.

The Worlds End, third behind Paisley Park at Newbury last month in the Long Distance Hurdle, is next best in the betting at a top-priced 11-1.

L'Ami Serge, Tobefair, Agrapart and Papagana complete the entries.

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