Paisley Park will face 14 rivals when he bids to regain his crown in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.
Emma Lavelle’s stable star looked set to dominate the division for years to come when landing the Grade 1 contest in 2019, but was found to be suffering from a heart problem when disappointing in last year’s renewal.
However, the nine-year-old has bounced back to something like his best this season – filling the runner-up spot behind Thyme Hill in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, before reversing that form in an epic Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
With Thyme Hill ruled out last week, some of the biggest threats to Paisley Park hail from Ireland.
Denise Foster, who recently took over the licence from the suspended Gordon Elliott at Cullentra House, launches a three-pronged assault with Fury Road joined by dual Pertemps Final winner Sire Du Berlais and the ultra-consistent The Storyteller.
Flooring Porter had that trio in behind when springing a surprise in a Grade One at Leopardstown over the Christmas period and is also in contention for Gavin Cromwell, while Bacardys (Willie Mullins), Beacon Edge (Noel Meade) complete the raiding party.
The Rebecca Curtis-trained Lisnagar Oscar was a shock winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle 12 months ago and bids for back-to-back victories.
Kim Bailey switches Vinndication back to the smaller obstacles for the first time in over three years, with the eight-year-old having been off the track since unseating David Bass in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November.
Bailey also runs Younevercall, with If The Cap Fits (Harry Fry), Lil Rockerfeller (Neil King), Main Fact (David Pipe), Reserve Tank (Colin Tizzard) and Sam Spinner (Jedd O’Keeffe) the other hopefuls.
Declared runners for Day Three of The Festival™ supporting WellChild
Cheltenham - Thursday 18th March 2021
1:20pm Marsh Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered as The Golden Miller) 2m 3f 168y
1 Asterion Forlonge (FR) ts 7 11 4 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs J. Donnelly P. Townend
2 Blackbow (IRE) h,ts 8 11 4 W. P. Mullins Ireland Roaringwater Syndicate B. J. Cooper
3 Chantry House (IRE) 7 11 4 Nicky Henderson Mr John P. McManus Nico de Boinville
4 Chatham Street Lad (IRE) 9 11 4 Michael Winters Ireland Mr V. Healy Darragh O'Keeffe
5 Darver Star (IRE) ts 9 11 4 Gavin Cromwell Ireland SSP Number Twenty Two Syndicate Jonathan Moore
6 Envoi Allen (FR) ts 7 11 4 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Cheveley Park Stud Jack Kennedy
7 Fusil Raffles (FR) 6 11 4 Nicky Henderson Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Daryl Jacob
8 Shan Blue (IRE) 7 11 4 Dan Skelton Mr Colm Donlon Harry Skelton
1:55pm Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 7f 213y
1 The Bosses Oscar (IRE) 6 11 12 Mrs Denise Foster Ireland Noel Moran/Mrs Valerie Moran Jordan Gainford (7)
2 Unowhatimeanharry ts, p 13 11 12 Harry Fry Mr John P. McManus Kevin Brogan (5)
3 Brinkley (FR) p 6 11 9 David Pipe Brocade Racing Tom Scudamore
4 Dandy Mag (FR) 8 11 9 W. P. Mullins Ireland Grant Mercer/Mrs Caren Walsh P. Townend
5 Imperial Alcazar (IRE) ts 7 11 8 Fergal O'Brien Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 Paddy Brennan
6 Ask Dillon (IRE) p 8 11 5 Fergal O'Brien 4 The Fun Partnership Liam Harrison (7)
7 Copperhead 7 11 4 Colin Tizzard Mrs G. C. Pritchard Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
8 Keeper Hill (IRE) p 10 11 3 Warren Greatrex McNeill Family A. P. Heskin
9 Spiritofthegames (IRE) 9 11 2 Dan Skelton Mr N. W. Lake Harry Skelton
10 Storm Arising (IRE) 7 11 1 Paul Nicholls Barry Fulton & Mrs Angela Hart Bryony Frost
11 Champagne Platinum (IRE) p 7 11 0 Nicky Henderson Mr John P. McManus Nico de Boinville
12 Southfield Harvest p 7 10 13 Paul Nicholls Mrs Angela Yeoman & Mr Paul K. Barber Harry Cobden
13 No Comment h,ts 10 10 12 Philip Hobbs Mr John P. McManus Richard Johnson
14 Anything Will Do (IRE) 6 10 12 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Annus Mirabilis Syndicate J. J. Slevin
15 Getaround (IRE) ts, p 6 10 10 Laura Young Mr Garry Wilson Bryan Carver (3)
16 Mrs Milner (IRE) ts 6 10 9 Paul Nolan Ireland Manverton Limited B. J. Cooper
17 Redford Road 7 10 9 Nigel Twiston-Davies Options O Syndicate Sam Twiston-Davies
18 Come On Teddy (IRE) 7 10 9 Tom George Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates-Teddy Jonathan Burke
19 Perfect Man (IRE) v,ts 10 10 8 Sophie Leech Mr James Finch Oakley Brown (5)
20 Bushypark (IRE) 7 10 7 Philip Kirby Mr P. Kirby Thomas Dowson
21 Storm Goddess (IRE) ts 7 10 6 Charlie Longsdon Don Sebastiao Partnership Tom Buckley (5)
22 Potters Hedger v 9 10 6 Lucy Wadham Mrs J. May Jack Quinlan
23 Everglow bl,ts 6 10 1 Philip Hobbs Mr Phil Munnelly Tom O'Brien
24 Kansas City Chief (IRE) p 12 10 1 Neil Mulholland Jersey Racing Friends Millie Wonnacott (5)
R25 Milliner (IRE) 8 10 1 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Gigginstown House Stud Rachael Blackmore
R26 Mr Harp (IRE) 8 10 1 Thomas Gallagher Mr John Reddington Sean Bowen
2:30pm Ryanair Chase (Registered as The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y
1 Allaho (FR) ts 7 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Cheveley Park Stud Rachael Blackmore
2 Chris's Dream (IRE) 9 11 10 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Robcour Robbie Power
3 Dashel Drasher 8 11 10 Jeremy Scott Mrs B Tully and Mr R Lock Matt Griffiths
4 Fakir d'Oudairies (FR) 6 11 10 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Mr John P. McManus Mark Walsh
5 Fanion d'Estruval (FR) 6 11 10 Venetia Williams Mr David Wilson Charlie Deutsch
6 Imperial Aura (IRE) ts 8 11 10 Kim Bailey Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 David Bass
7 Kalashnikov (IRE) ts, p 8 11 10 Amy Murphy Mr Paul Murphy Jack Quinlan
8 Melon p 9 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs J. Donnelly B. J. Cooper
9 Min (FR) 10 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs S. Ricci P. Townend
10 Mister Fisher (IRE) 7 11 10 Nicky Henderson James & Jean Potter Ltd Nico de Boinville
11 Real Steel (FR) ts 8 11 10 Paul Nicholls Mrs Kathy Stuart&Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd Harry Cobden
12 Saint Calvados (FR) p 8 11 10 Harry Whittington Kate & Andrew Brooks Gavin Sheehan
13 Samcro (IRE) ts 9 11 10 Mrs Denise Foster Ireland Gigginstown House Stud Jack Kennedy
14 Tornado Flyer (IRE) 8 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland T. F. P. Daniel Mullins
3:05pm Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
1 Bacardys (FR) ts 10 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Shanakiel Racing Syndicate P. Townend
2 Beacon Edge (IRE) 7 11 10 Noel Meade Ireland Gigginstown House Stud Sean Flanagan
3 Flooring Porter (IRE) ts 6 11 10 Gavin Cromwell Ireland Flooring Porter Syndicate Jonathan Moore
4 Fury Road (IRE) ts 7 11 10 Mrs Denise Foster Ireland Gigginstown House Stud Jack Kennedy
5 If The Cap Fits (IRE) ts, p 9 11 10 Harry Fry Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Daryl Jacob
6 Lil Rockerfeller (USA) v 10 11 10 Neil King Davies Smith Govier & Brown Bryony Frost
7 Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 8 11 10 Rebecca Curtis Racing for Fun Harry Skelton
8 Main Fact (USA) bl 8 11 10 David Pipe Munrowd's Partnership Fergus Gillard
9 Paisley Park (IRE) 9 11 10 Emma Lavelle Mr Andrew Gemmell Aidan Coleman
10 Reserve Tank (IRE) 7 11 10 Colin Tizzard The Reserve Tankers Robbie Power
11 Sam Spinner bl 9 11 10 Jedd O'Keeffe Caron & Paul Chapman Henry Brooke
12 Sire du Berlais (FR) bl,ts 9 11 10 Mrs Denise Foster Ireland Mr John P. McManus Mark Walsh
13 The Storyteller (IRE) 10 11 10 Mrs Denise Foster Ireland Mrs Pat Sloan Keith Donoghue
14 Vinndication (IRE) ts, p 8 11 10 Kim Bailey Moremoneythan David Bass
15 Younevercall (IRE) ts, p 10 11 10 Kim Bailey Youneverknow Partnership Ciaran Gethings
3:40pm Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 4f 127y
1 Top Notch (FR) p 10 11 12 Nicky Henderson Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Luca Morgan (7)
2 Caribean Boy (FR) 7 11 11 Nicky Henderson Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Daryl Jacob
3 Mister Whitaker (IRE) p 9 11 8 Mick Channon Mr T. P. Radford Jonathan Burke
4 Assemble ts 7 11 6 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Gigginstown House Stud Rachael Blackmore
5 Huntsman Son (IRE) ts 11 11 5 Alex Hales Mrs Wendy Wesley Kielan Woods
6 Oldgrangewood 10 11 4 Dan Skelton Chris Giles & Sandra Giles Harry Skelton
7 Farclas (FR) ts 7 11 4 Mrs Denise Foster Ireland Gigginstown House Stud Jack Kennedy
8 Happy Diva (IRE) ts 10 11 3 Kerry Lee Mr Will Roseff Richard Patrick
9 Fils d'Oudairies (FR) 6 11 3 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Mr Claudio Michael Grech Donagh Meyler
10 Laskalin (FR) 6 11 1 Venetia Williams David & Carol Shaw Charlie Deutsch
11 Coole Cody (IRE) 10 11 1 Evan Williams Mr W. Clifford Tom O'Brien
12 A Wave of The Sea (IRE) 5 11 0 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Mr John P. McManus
13 Two Taffs (IRE) 11 10 13 Nigel Twiston-Davies Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group Sam Twiston-Davies
14 The Shunter (IRE) h,ts 8 10 12 Emmet Mullins Ireland Mr P. Byrne
15 Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) ts 7 10 11 Jamie Snowden McNeill Family A. P. Heskin
16 Paddy's Poem 10 10 10 (5lb ex) Nick Gifford Mrs T. Brown James Davies
17 Sully D'oc AA (FR) ts 7 10 9 Anthony Honeyball Mr John P. McManus Richie McLernon
18 Smarty Wild 7 10 8 Philip Hobbs Mr Michael and Mrs Norma Tuckey Richard Johnson
19 Champagne Court (IRE) p 8 10 6 Jeremy Scott Mr I F Gosden and Mr DJ Coles
20 The Unit (IRE) 10 10 6 Alan King International Plywood (Importers) Ltd Tom Cannon
21 Maypole Class (IRE) 7 10 4 Jonjo O'Neill Delancey
22 Dead Right 9 10 4 Neil Mulholland Mr John P. McManus Tom Scudamore
23 Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) bl,ts 10 10 2 David Pipe The Angove Family David Noonan
4:15pm Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered as The Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle) 2m 179y
1 Gauloise (FR) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr K. Alexander P. Townend
2 Roseys Hollow (IRE) 7 11 7 Jonathan Sweeney Ireland Mr John P. McManus Mark Walsh
3 Skyace (IRE) 6 11 7 John Joseph Hanlon Ireland Birdinthehand Syndicate Jody McGarvey
4 Will Victory (FR) 5 11 5 Charlie Mann David's Partnership Gavin Sheehan
5 Allavina (IRE) 6 11 2 Olly Murphy Mr C. Boultbee-Brooks Aidan Coleman
6 Glens of Antrim (IRE) 6 11 2 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
7 Hook Up (FR) ts 5 11 2 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs S. Ricci Daniel Mullins
8 Magic Daze (IRE) 5 11 2 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Robcour Robbie Power
9 Martello Sky 5 11 2 Lucy Wadham The Sky Partnership Bryony Frost
10 Mighty Blue (FR) h 5 11 2 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Capel Street Syndicate J. J. Slevin
11 Perfect Myth h,ts 7 11 2 Neil King Mr R. J. Vines Harry Skelton
12 Pont Aval (FR) 8 11 2 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Nigel King Brian Hayes
13 Royal Kahala (IRE) 6 11 2 Peter Fahey Ireland Winning Ways Starlet Syndicate Kevin Sexton
14 Telmesomethinggirl (IRE) 6 11 2 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Mr K. Alexander Rachael Blackmore
15 The Glancing Queen (IRE) 7 11 2 Alan King Dingwall, Farrell, Hornsey & Murray Tom Cannon
4:50pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Sponsored by the JRL Group) 3m 2f
1 Double Shuffle (IRE) 11 11 12 Tom George Crossed Fingers Partnership James Bowen
2 Beau Bay (FR) h,ts 10 11 9 Dr Richard Newland Mr Peter Green & Dr RDP Newland Charlie Hammond
3 Mount Ida (IRE) ts 7 11 9 Mrs Denise Foster Ireland KTDA Racing Jack Kennedy
4 Storm Control (IRE) ts, p 8 11 9 Kerry Lee Mr Will Roseff Richard Patrick
5 Go Another One (IRE) ts 9 11 9 John McConnell Ireland Ms Caroline Ahearn
6 Deise Aba (IRE) p 8 11 9 Philip Hobbs Mr Trevor Hemmings Richard Johnson
7 Shantou Flyer (IRE) bl,ts 11 11 7 Paul Nicholls David Maxwell Racing Limited Harry Cobden
8 Hold The Note (IRE) v 7 11 7 Mick Channon Mr T. P. Radford Jonathan Burke
9 Crievehill (IRE) 9 11 7 Nigel Twiston-Davies Highclere T'Bred Racing- Crievehill Sam Twiston-Davies
10 Cloudy Glen (IRE) 8 11 7 Venetia Williams Mr Trevor Hemmings Robert Dunne
11 Another Venture (IRE) v 10 11 6 Kim Bailey Racing For Maggie's Partnership David Bass
12 Plan of Attack (IRE) bl 8 11 5 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Mr A. Halsall Rachael Blackmore
13 Cobolobo (FR) ts, p 9 11 5 Jonjo O'Neill Anne, Harriet & Lucinda Bond Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
14 Milanford (IRE) 7 11 5 Nick Mitchell Sherborne Utilities Ltd Daryl Jacob
15 Almazhar Garde (FR) 6 11 2 Charlie Longsdon Kate & Andrew Brooks Gavin Sheehan
16 Bob Mahler (IRE) bl 9 11 2 Warren Greatrex Bolingbroke, Bunch, Howard & Sutton Harry Bannister
17 Kilfilum Cross (IRE) p 10 11 2 Henry Oliver Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons Alex Edwards (3)
18 Late Romantic (IRE) ts, p 11 11 2 Oliver Greenall Spitalized Racing Henry Brooke
19 Musical Slave (IRE) 8 11 2 Philip Hobbs Mr John P. McManus Tom O'Brien
20 Didero Vallis (FR) 8 11 1 Venetia Williams Normans, Ramsay, Tufnell & Bishop Charlie Deutsch
21 Morning Vicar (IRE) 8 11 1 Nicky Henderson The Parishioners Nico de Boinville
22 Sizing At Midnight (IRE) 9 11 0 Colin Tizzard Ann & Alan Potts Limited Robbie Power
23 Townshend (GER) ts, p 10 10 13 Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr J. D. Neild Jamie Neild (10)
24 Young Dev (IRE) 7 10 3 Denis G. Hogan Ireland Mr L. Mulryan
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