'I think I love him' - Lavelle full of praise for Paisley after Cleeve success

Dress rehearsals rarely go off without a hitch, but Paisley Park proved an exception to the rule with a professional Cleeve Hurdle success.

The Cheltenham hill has so often been the undoing of festival hopefuls but hardly seemed to affect Paisley Park, who showed why he is favourite to retain his Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle crown when powering a length and a quarter clear of runner-up Summerville Boy.

Watch Paisley Park win the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham

"God, I love those ears," said trainer Emma Lavelle. "As soon as I see them go forward I know we're going to be fine. He's a stayer but he's got pace and doesn't hit a flat spot in the way he used to, and if something had come to him I'm sure he'd have pushed on.

"We knew we had him in good shape and it was going to take a good one to beat him, and that's still the case. He was as professional as he's ever been and seems to be getting better. He keeps getting to the front and just doing enough. I think I love him."

It is easy to see why. There was a palpable sense of expectation and goodwill from those in the crowd, many of whom came to see the staying superstar bid for back-to-back wins in the Grade 2.

Racegoers pack around the winner's enclosure to see Paisley ParkCredit: Edward Whitaker

His admirers had been made to wait an extra month to see him on the track after he was withdrawn at the 11th hour due to unsuitable ground at Ascot last month, but judging by his reception in the winner's enclosure, they did not seem to mind.

"It's not just the pressure of the yard and Andrew, you feel like you have the pressure of everybody rooting for him," said Lavelle after embracing delighted owner Andrew Gemmell.

"When you've got a really good horse turning up each time they carry more than one yard with them. Everybody was taking pictures of him. That's what I love about racing. We love having him.

"We'll just get back into our routine and wrap him up in cotton wool. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan before the festival."

Paisley Park was shortened to a general 4-5 (from 5-4) to follow up in the Stayers' Hurdle in March when he will attempt to emulate the achievements of Big Buck's, Inglis Drever and Baracouda by becoming a dual winner.

"He's matured and I probably need to as well and try not to get so excited," said Gemmell, having just calmed down from the finish. "He's a special, special horse and is there to be shot at.

"It means everything for him to be compared to the likes of Baracouda. I remember those horses with great affection and I just love him being talked about in those terms."

Owner Andrew Gemmell (centre) walks in with Paisley ParkCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was a seventh success in a row for Paisley Park and jockey Aidan Coleman is relishing his association with the staying star, who provided him with his first Grade 1 win in December 2018.

"He's an absolute pleasure and I'm excited to be associated with him," said Coleman. "I normally get to the front too soon so going to the last I thought this was perfect. He stopped more than he usually does but he's brilliant.

"There are a lot of better riders than me who have never found a Paisley Park. Now I have him I really enjoy him. I'll sleep better than ever tonight."

It was always going to take a phenomenal effort to overturn the 4-6 favourite but Tom George was pleased with the performance of Summerville Boy, who finished second in front of 50-1 shot Lisnagar Oscar in third.

"We thought we'd try to catch him out a bit off the home bend, which we did for a minute. There are no plans, but the Stayers' Hurdle is the obvious route. The winner is a very hard horse to beat," George said.

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