Our experts disagree on whether or not Thyme Hill is the Stayers' Hurdle winner

Yes, he can win. But ask me again in 48 hours!

Thankfully we have a handful of last year's novice hurdlers to breathe some fire into the division and although Thyme Hill was unlucky in the Albert Bartlett, Fury Road was ahead of him and he will take on Honeysuckle in Sunday's Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

It will be interesting to see if he can confirm that form at the Cheltenham Festival and there are any number of outsiders who could emerge as Stayers' Hurdle contenders in the coming months. I'm going to wait a little longer before having a bet in the race.
Maddy Playle, RPTV

Click here to watch the Long Distance Hurdle

He probably is after a coming-of-age performance.

It was an unsatisfactory race with the shenanigans at the start, but despite his relative inexperience Thyme Hill was thoroughly professional throughout.

His jumping was slicker than last season and he finished the race off strongly, running straight and true to the line. The Paisley Park team will be encouraged by his run in second, but that's two defeats in a row now and he's lost his air of invincibility.

I'd fancy Thyme Hill to uphold the form in a rematch as he's open to more progress.
Andrew Dietz, reporter

Andrew Dietz and Richard Birch disagree on Thyme Hill and Paisley ParkCredit: Alan Crowhurst

No. Few would be surprised if Paisley Park turned the tables when granted the stiffer stamina test and stronger all-round gallop that brings out the best in him at Cheltenham.

Paisley Park shaped as though certain to come on for the run, and I’d expect him to reverse the form in March despite the two-years younger Thyme Hill seemingly being open to the greater improvement.

Whether Paisley Park will beat dual Pertemps hero Sire Du Berlais is another matter. Gordon Elliott’s stayer doesn’t have a significant amount to find in terms of official ratings, and habitually rises to the occasion in March.
Richard Birch, tipster

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