Talking Horses: Paisley Park can reclaim leading stayer position

Paisley Park and Aidan Coleman winning The galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle in January. Picture: Healy Racing.

The Grade One Porsche Long Walk Hurdle is the headline act on the final Saturday before Christmas and Paisley Park can reclaim his position as Britain’s leading staying hurdler by reversing Newbury form with the progressive Thyme Hill.

A length and half separated the pair in the Long Distance Hurdle last month, a contest where connections of both the first and second could take plenty of positives. In victory Thyme Hill built on the promise of a fine novice hurdling campaign where his only defeat in four starts came when a slightly unlucky fourth in the Albert Barlett at the Cheltenham Festival. He now has to be considered a huge contender for the Stayers’ Hurdle glory next March.