Emma Lavelle: Paisley Park would have to underperform not to win

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | New course | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

“It’s been a wonderful way to showcase the yard. Now I just hope it’s all been worth it,” trainer Emma Lavelle said before Paisley Park lined up in the Stayers’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Twelve months on and it has certainly been more than worth it for Lavelle, jockey Aidan Coleman and owner Andrew Gemmell. Three more wins, all emphatic and including last year's big contest, mean Paisley Park carries considerable confidence behind him as he bids to emulate some of this race’s great former winners.

No horse since the indomitable Big Buck’s recorded his fourth successive victory in this race in 2012 has landed this race more than once, but many expect Paisley Park to buck that trend.

If he does he will join the likes of Galmoy (1987-88), Baracouda (2002-03), Inglis Drever (2005, 07-08) and the aforementioned Big Buck’s, who ruled this race like no other.

Paisley Park bids to emulate the likes of staying great Inglis DreverCredit: Mark Cranham

“The biggest difference this year to last year is that he’d have to underperform not to win the race,” Lavelle said. “He’s had a good preparation and he seems to be in top order.

“He doesn’t seem to mind what the ground is or how the race is run, so we’re in the position where the others will be thinking tactically about how they can beat him.

“He’s pretty straightforward and all things being equal we’d hope he could run a very good race again, although we all know what racing is like. We have to be very positive with him coming into the race.”

The confidence behind Paisley Park is understandable. He has not been beaten since finishing down the field in the 2018 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, a sequence of seven races, and he has a strong public following, who were rewarded last year as part of the fabled ‘golden hour’ when Frodon also captured the Ryanair Chase under Bryony Frost.

Furthermore, Paisley Park’s rider Aidan Coleman has broken his Cheltenham Festival duck for the year, meaning he can relax a little more into the ride having already visited the winner’s enclosure when partnering Put The Kettle On to victory in the Racing Post Arkle.

“It’s always good to ride a winner here and get on the board, so it helps a little, but whatever happened before you just go out and focus on whatever your next ride is,” he said.

“Paisley improved all through last season and there was no reason to think he couldn’t go and do the same this year. He’s been going through his races so well, so long may that continue. I can’t wait to ride him.”

What they say

Patrick Mullins, rider of Bacardys
He has ran well here before and I think he might be placed again.

Martin Brassil, trainer of City Island
Everything is well and we're very hopeful. The spark is definitely still there, don't worry about that. The better the ground, the better chance he has so I hope it continues to dry out.

Warren Greatrex, trainer of Emitom
He won very well at Haydock last time and he goes there in seriously good form. I think there's more to come from him again but everything will have to go to right with him in terms of jumping and passage around. If that was the case, then I'd like to think he'll be in the mix. You could say he's probably the one horse in the race no one could be absolutely sure about in terms of how good he could be.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of L'Ami Serge
He's a very consistent, dear old friend, and he does stay, as he showed when winning the French Champion Hurdle. Unfortunately, you have to put his head in front at the last possible moment. I therefore do feel sorry for Paisley Park as he is going to be mugged on the line by L'Ami Serge. They might put me in the mad house even for thinking that!

Paul Townend, rider of Penhill
He has a good track record. He’s been getting a bit better at home throughout the season. It’ll be very hard to beat Paisley Park but I think he can run into a place. He seems to be the forgotten horse here.

Penhill (left): has an excellent record at Prestbury ParkCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Matthew Smith, trainer of Ronald Pump
Some of his form in handicaps is very good and he was carrying a lot of weight when he was fourth at Naas so we said why not have a try at this. He’s in great order.

Tom George, trainer of Summerville Boy
He's had a good preparation and that was his first run over three miles last time, so he's sure to come on for that. He should step up on his last run and he was only beaten a length and a quarter by Paisley Park, although he will be hard to beat.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of West Approach
He runs well around Cheltenham and we're looking for a place at best really, but that's how he'll be ridden. If Paisley Park gets around he wins, doesn't he?

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Apple's Jade
We've tried everything with her. We've changed her whole routine and done everything we can to get her back. She's well but the old spark is still not there in her work. We're trying her in blinkers for the first time so hopefully they will spark her up a bit. I'm hoping for the best but, win, lose or draw she's been an amazing mare for us and I will probably never have another one like her.

RPR View

Title-holder Paisley Park (172) is rated in excess of the ten-year-average winning mark of 169 and is understandably a very warm order to supplement last year's success.

On Racing Post Ratings he has upwards of 9lb in hand of his rivals and he is the standout runner in a race that falls short quality wise.

Although she did manage to win the Mares' Hurdle in 2017, Apple's Jade (163) reserves her best efforts for elsewhere and has become increasingly difficult to predict. The 2018 winner Penhill (162) may prove the one for the forecast, although he needs to step up on this season's efforts. It's hard to see former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Summerville Boy turning round recent course-and-distance form with Paisley Park, but he is another with place claims along with the still progressive Emitom (157) and last season's Ballymore winner City Island (155).
Steve Mason

Spotlight verdict

It's been wonderful to see the rise of Paisley Park, who is a terrific horse with inspiring connections, and he's rightly a warm order to retain his Stayers' Hurdle crown. He remains top of this division and should be hard to beat. The one for the forecast may be Summerville Boy, who was a good second to the selection last time. The progressive Emitom is third choice. City Island and Penhill have more to prove on this season's form but there are reasons to believe that they could prove resurgent.
Steve Boow

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