ROUND two of Paisley Park vs Thyme Hill, in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, saw the former level the scores, as might have been expected on better terms and in more conducive circumstances than in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury the previous month, but not without a major scare along the way.

Off level weights, and on softer ground, Paisley Park got outpaced on the home turn and looked a lost cause until staying on dourly to lead in the last couple of strides.

The form has a solid look to it, without being quite top-drawer, but finishing speeds in excess of 100% show the pace was none too demanding early on and that the principals did pretty well. Paisley Park is now on 161, Thyme Hill on 159 and close-up third Roksana on 150. The first two figures are about what is usually required to win at Cheltenham in March.

Talented novices

The two-day Ascot meeting was quite illuminating, run on ground that was bordering on heavy on the Friday and genuinely heavy by Saturday. Two Grade 2 novice winners on the first day shone, My Drogo in the Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle and Allart in the Noel Novices’ Chase.

My Drogo (140) comes out slightly behind penalised runner-up Llandinabo Lad (141) but did it nicely on just his second start over hurdles and could go a long way. Allart (150) achieved more in quickening smartly to account for the very useful Fiddlerontheroof (147) and could be a star, though the novice-chasing division does look very competitive again this season.

Knappers Hill was a ready winner of what is usually a strong bumper, though, with less than four lengths separating the first four, his 127 rating is a bit lower than standard.

Sleepy awake

There was a good supporting cast to the Long Walk Hurdle on Saturday, with Not So Sleepy (147) having one of his going days in winning the Betfair Exchange Trophy from top-weight Buzz (150), and Mister Malarky (155) likewise on best behaviour in picking up the Silver Cup Handicap Chase.

It seems likely that Dashel Drasher was the only one of three to run his race in the Graduation Chase early on the card, and time analysis supports that view, though a figure of 145 still remains a marginal best for him.

Bennys King is very smart at around two and a half miles and took his form to an even higher level with a 156-rated success from near the front in a well-run handicap chase.