THERE are other races going on at Aintree today, quite good ones in fact. One of them features the clash that never happened at Cheltenham with Paisley Park renewing rivalry with Thyme Hill. The pair top the market for the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle (3:35) which will be their third meeting this season, the scoreline currently at 1-1.

Paisley Park failed to catch the impressive Flooring Porter at Cheltenham and it was interesting to hear his trainer Emma Lavelle make reference to his lack of a recent run after the race. She supplemented that view earlier this week when she said: “He’s definitely a bit sharper all round since he ran at Cheltenham, so hopefully it will work out. Aintree is obviously a different type of track to Cheltenham, but I’m very happy with how he is and I’m looking forward to the rematch with Thyme Hill and a few others.

“He’s won over two and a half miles at Aintree and I don’t think tracks really matter to him, to be honest.”

It was reported that only a minor injury stopped Thyme Hill from running at Cheltenham and while he will arrive in Aintree a fresh horse, he may end up being what Paisley Park was at Cheltenham, potentially short of match practice having not run since he finished an agonising second to that rival in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot way back on December 19th.

Roksana will also renew rivalry with the pair having finished a close third at Ascot. After deliberating for weeks about her Cheltenham target, connections decided to go back down in trip for the Mares’ Hurdle, where she finished third to Black Tears. All her best form from this season has been at three miles, but whether she’d have fared better in the Stayers’ Hurdle is immaterial now.

She finished second in this race two seasons ago when she was involved in a brilliant three-way finish with the winner If The Cap Fits and Apple’s Jade, the former returning to defend his title today.

From only a handful of runners, Irish raiders have made a significant impact at Aintree so far this week and it will be fascinating to see how Ronan McNally’s Dreal Deal gets on in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2:25) earlier on the card.

The six-year-old missed Cheltenham on account of a setback but the form of his Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle win has been franked significantly by the likes of Echoes In Rain, Power Of Pause and Magic Tricks since.

Rated 87 over hurdles this time last year, he’s a general 5/1 shot to complete a remarkable rise to the top for his Armagh trainer today.

LEOPARDSTOWN’S Sunday card sees the return of Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Shale who begins her classic campaign in the Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes (2:10).

The daughter of Galileo faces a tough test on her seasonal bow given 14 other fillies have been declared and she will have to concede 3lbs to everyone on account of her Group 1 penalty.

Ryan Moore takes the ride for Donnacha O’Brien, who also runs Hazel in the seven-furlong contest and told The Irish Field yesterday: “Shale is in good form and just ready to start off for the year. Most of mine are needing their run fairly badly. It’s her first run so I imagine she’ll get a little bit tired and we’re going to use it as a prep for one of the Guineas.

“We’re using the race as a prep and if she runs well and has a good blow, we’ll be delighted. We’ll look towards Newmarket or the Curragh then.

“Hazel is probably a bit fitter than Shale. She has always worked like a high-class filly so I’m hopeful for a good run from her. Any bit of rain would probably help her, but she’s in good form anyway.”

O’Brien has a small but select team to go to war with again this season and he was also hopeful of a good run from Fernando Vichi, who takes on seven in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes (3:45).

The Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez-owned colt was an impressive winner of his maiden at this course before finishing fourth to Cadillac in the Champions Juvenile Stakes.

“We’re very happy with him,” O’Brien said. “He’s gone well over the winter. Again he’s another who will improve fitness-wise. He’s in good form, conditions should suit him and we’ll see where we stand with him after Sunday.”

One of Fernando Vichi’s rivals is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Bolshoi Ballet, a brother to the high-class stayer Southern France. He was one of a number of impressive maiden winners to emerge from Ballydoyle towards the backend of last season before he struggled when thrown into the deep end in a heavy-ground Group 1 at Saint-Cloud.

O’Brien’s horses look sharp for this time of year – he recorded a treble at Naas two weeks ago – and he runs three smart-looking colts in the 2000 Guineas Trial (2:40): Horoscope, Matchless and Merchants Quay.