'It's not just a rematch' - Johnson and Lavelle wary of Long Walk Hurdle dangers

2.25 AscotPorsche Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Many have billed the Porsche Long Walk Hurdle as a rematch between Thyme Hill and Paisley Park, first and second in Newbury’s Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle last month.

Not Richard Johnson, rider of the hugely progressive Thyme Hill, who believes this crackerjack of a contest is far more open than the majority viewpoint.

“Everyone keeps talking about the rematch, but there are ten runners in the race,” Johnson said. “There are plenty of other decent horses in there too. Whoever wins will have to put up a very good performance. It’s a very good race.”

Nonetheless, Johnson is obviously hoping Thyme Hill can build on his Newbury win and strengthen his claims to be the season’s leading staying hurdler in what looks a wide-open division.

“Fingers crossed, Thyme Hill can win again,” he said. “He’s in very good form at home and worked well earlier in the week. He should have improved for his first run of the season. We couldn’t be happier with him.

“This will be only his sixth run over hurdles. He’s gaining in experience and continues on the upgrade.”

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It’s been widely documented that a stronger-run race than Newbury will suit Paisley Park, but Johnson feels it won’t inconvenience his mount either.

“They didn’t go very quick early on at Newbury,” he said. “Thyme Hill travelled and jumped nicely, and finished his race off in good style.

“A better-run race will suit Thyme Hill as well as Paisley Park.”

Paisley Park has 'improved at home'

The air of invincibility which surrounded Paisley Park may have evaporated following defeats at Cheltenham and Newbury on his two most recent starts, but it would be churlish at this stage to dismiss his claims of regaining the stayers’ crown.

Who can forget the rampant power and authority he showed in reeling off a magnificent seven-timer against the best around before his Stayers’ Hurdle defeat in March?

The high point of that stunning sequence came when Paisley Park thumped Sam Spinner by two and three-quarter lengths at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019.

His trainer Emma Lavelle has certainly not lost any faith in her stable star and couldn’t be happier with him ahead of Ascot.

Emma Lavelle: Paisley Park was 'electric' over hurdles on ThursdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He’s improved at home since Newbury, and seems fresh and well,” she said. “Aidan [Coleman] came down and gave him a pop over hurdles on Thursday, and the horse was electric.”

On official ratings Paisley Park is 5lb superior to Thyme Hill who, in turn, is 3lb ahead of Thistlecrack.

However, Lavelle sides with Richard Johnson when asked whether she sees the Long Walk as simply a rematch with Thyme Hill.

“There’s a lot of strength in depth among the ten runners,” she said. “It’s not just a rematch. There is danger lurking all over.

“That’s what makes it such an exciting race – this is what racing is all about. It will be great to see how it all pans out.”

Main Fact chasing ten in a row

The rise and rise of Main Fact has been one of the stories of 2020 and such has been his rate of improvement that few would raise an eyebrow if David Pipe’s seven-year-old extended his winning sequence to ten despite the huge step up in class.

As short as 5-1 with some bookmakers behind the big two, Thyme Hill and Paisley Park, the softening of the Ascot ground in recent days will undoubtedly play to the strengths of Main Fact who simply bulldozes his way through deep mud.

“I’d say 5-1 is probably a bit short, but if it was a football team you’d be saying he’s playing at home on this sort of ground,” Pipe said.

“It’s all about stamina and he showed he stayed the trip well on his first venture over it at Haydock last time. Mind you, he is going to have to stay even better at Ascot on Saturday. We know that.”

There were 17 runners at Haydock and the fact that there are seven fewer this time is viewed as a significant plus by Pipe.

“Main Fact is very lazy in the early stages and will have to come from behind,” Pipe explained. “In theory at least, there ought to be less trouble getting through the pack in a smaller field.

“Everything we throw at him he keeps responding to – both over jumps and on the Flat. He fully deserves to take his chance in a Grade 1 and it will be great if he finishes in the first three. However, he just keeps on improving and surprising us.

“He could finish fourth on Saturday or be favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle by the middle of the afternoon – no one knows yet.”

What they say

Olly Murphy, trainer of The Worlds End
He’s coming back off a disappointing run in France, but hopefully the small break will have rejuvenated him. If it has, he boasts some very good form in the book and could run well.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Third Wind
It's a very tough race. If you go into a handicap these days you could run into a Grade 1 horse, so we thought we may as well have a crack at this.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Roksana
It's a top-end race and the two from Newbury will be tough competitors, but she gets 7lb being a mare and handles soft ground.

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