3.00 Cheltenham: can Paisley Park make Cheltenham history in the Cleeve Hurdle?

History awaits Paisley Park as he bids to make it four wins in the Cleeve Hurdle and eclipse the great Lady Rebecca, who won the race three times in succession between 1999 and 2001.

It’s possible to argue that Paisley Park has already achieved more than Lady Rebecca because the modern Cleeve Hurdle is a gruelling contest compared to the one in which she trebled up. 

Lady Rebecca beat a total of just 18 rivals for her three wins and the race was run over 2m5½f. Paisley Park has defeated 22 horses for his hat-trick and that has come at 3m.

Abundant stamina has been the key to Paisley Park’s success, but it’s a misconception that he is slow. In fact, his win in this race last season was achieved with a sprint finish that saw him cover the final half-mile in a time similar to that recorded by North Lodge in the following Grade 2 novice hurdle, and he was actually quicker than Pied Piper in the Triumph Trial.

He might be an 11-year-old now, but he proved he retains that speed by landing the Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton a month ago. That flat, right-handed circuit is one of the sharpest tracks in Britain yet he was quick enough to cope and easily beat a speed horse like Goshen.

Like most of the greats, Paisley Park seems capable of adapting to cope with any pace scenario at any course, but this is his home turf and fireworks are expected once again.

There shouldn’t be any concern about the pace scenario here because Dashel Drasher and Molly Ollys Wishes often go from the front and Gelino Bello is usually ridden prominently.

The 2014 winner Knockara Beau and 2015 scorer Saphir Du Rheu were both reverting to hurdles after a spell chasing and Dashel Drasher has recorded his best form over fences.

However, Gelino Bello is the most interesting former chaser. He comes here after falling in the Kauto Star at Kempton and is trained by Paul Nicholls, who saddled Saphir Du Rheu to win this after he had fallen in the Kauto Star. Nicholls also won this famously with another former chaser in 2009 and that was none other than Big Buck’s, probably the greatest of all.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'Cheltenham is a place Paisley Park loves to be'

Paisley Park: has won four times at CheltenhamCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Paisley Park, one of the most popular horses in training at the age of 11, will raise the Cheltenham roof if he makes history with a record-breaking fourth success in the Cleeve Hurdle.

Emma Lavelle’s stable star landed the rescheduled Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day last time out, despite the track not playing to his strong-staying strengths.  

Although that performance suggested he might be a few pounds shy of his Cleeve and Stayers’ Hurdle heroics four years ago, it was a stirring display to warm the heart on a mid-winter afternoon.

"He still loves racing and he still loves being in training," Lavelle said. "It was an extraordinary performance at Kempton from our perspective. How can that track possibly suit him? Yet he travelled well, hit his usual flat spot, and then galloped as hard as he could to the line."

The form book proves that Paisley Park invariably raises his game at Cheltenham, which is bad news for his six rivals. 

"He’s a total star and seems in really good form," Lavelle added. "We’re hoping he can put his best foot forward at Cheltenham again.

"It would be wonderful if he could win the race for a fourth time. I always say it’s an amazing achievement to run in a race four times. The Cleeve has worked well for us over the years.

"The races will keep on getting tougher, but Cheltenham is a place Paisley Park loves to be."

What they say

Gary Moore, trainer of Botox Has
When he won at Haydock I thought he had improved from last season, but he didn’t reproduce the form at Cheltenham. The ground should be fine for him. He’ll go for the Rendlesham after this, all being well.

Harry Cobden, rider of Gelino Bello
He’s a nice horse. I worked him on Thursday morning and he went nicely. On his old [hurdle] form he’s got to step up to be competitive, but he’s still a relatively young horse. He’s only just turned seven, and I certainly think he’s improved.

Rex Dingle, rider of Dashel Drasher
He has won six of his last seven races over hurdles — his form is pretty solid. His last run when second to Marie’s Rock was as good as any of those runs. Hopefully he’ll run well and give us confidence that the Stayers’ Hurdle is the right route to go down if we choose to do so.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Molly Ollys Wishes
Despite her age she’s never been to Cheltenham before so we’re having a new adventure here. She’s entered in the Mares’ Hurdle and so we’ll see if the course is appropriate for her. If she ran well in this she could go for that. She’s been an absolutely super mare for us and we’re very proud of her. It’s not going to be easy, though. Although she gets the 7lb mares’ allowance, we know it’s not going to be easy against Paisley Park et al.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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