PAISLEY Park probably does not quite measure up to some of the great staying hurdlers of the past, like Big Buck’s and Baracouda, but he is proving thoroughly dominant in an otherwise ordinary era, and the theory that he could be vulnerable in tactical affairs took another blow when he won another of them – the Cleeve Hurdle – at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The pace was steady, to say the least, and the proximity of Lisnagar Oscar and Kilbricken Storm at the finish prevents it from being rated top-class form. However, Paisley Park was fastest where it mattered and can be rated 165 on sectionals, in addition to what he did in winning this race and the Stayers’ Hurdle here last year.

A rejuvenated Summerville Boy now figures on 158, though the modest effort of If The Cap Fits (under a rather unenterprising ride) means that the winner’s main rival was not much of a factor. It has to be said that Paisley Park has not met a rival of the calibre of Benie Des Dieux recently, or perhaps ever.

There were other Grade 2 wins at Cheltenham from Galahad Quest in the Triumph Hurdle Trial and Harry Senior in Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Trial, though it is questionable whether either race will have much of a bearing on events a few weeks down the line.

Weak race

The Juvenile Hurdle was especially weak, with Galahad Quest managing just a 120 figure on time, despite running fairly efficiently. Tavus had run a better juvenile time (127) at Wetherby a couple of days earlier.

The Harry Senior race was falsely run (109% finishing speed), but he does go up to a respectable 142 on sectionals.

Runner-up King Roland (139) pulled most of the way and could easily do better in a well-run contest at this trip or shorter.

The Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase was one of two chase handicaps run over an extended two and a half miles, run in similar overall times but in markedly different fashions.

Simply The Betts was able to set tepid fractions in the novice and stormed away, along with Imperial Aura, for 149 and 145 figures respectively on sectionals.

Cepage (155) set an honest pace in the Grade 3 handicap and gutsed it out from Spiritofthegames (150) and Lalor (153).