However, horseracing is a sport that will often throw up illogical results and, as punters, we can come a cropper when trying to apply strict logic to it, not least because the market does too. His form makes sense he is consistent and can be relied on to run to form. He is the ideal type for those who prefer the logical approach to the pin-sticker's one. Most people like to consider themselves logical in life and, as such, find it easy to warm to horses like Paisley Park. He might even be capable of bettering his chase figures if he jumps hurdles better than fences. The talented but often haphazard chaser recorded an RPR of 165 on three separate occasions over fences last season and is unbeaten in two runs over hurdles. Thomas Darby recorded an RPR of 157 when third in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April and that figure would have won Thomas Darby eight of the last ten runnings, and we haven't even mentioned Master Tommytucker. If Paisley Park could repeat last season's best figures he would be a certainty in any normal year, even when taking into account his 6lb penalty, but there is no such thing as a certainty and this isn't a normal year.Ī quick look at Paisley Park's opposition confirms that. Only Kilcooley (167 in 2015) has bettered an RPR of 160 in this race in the last ten years and the median winner's rating for the event in that time is just 154. He was pulled up in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree, but that was less than a month after his heroic Stayers' third.
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Last season Paisley Park recorded RPRs of 164 (twice) and 163 on the three occasions he completed and the one time he didn't there was a plausible excuse.
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Paisley Park showed that in spades when snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in one of last season's most thrilling finishes for Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle, and the warrior was carried out on his shield when a never-nearer third behind Flooring Porter at Cheltenham in March. Now nine years of age and soon to be turning ten, Paisley Park is past his peak but he hasn't lost any of the steely resolution that has made him such a favourite with jumps fans. Paisley Park has become one of the most popular hurdlers in Britain after a string of good efforts in staying races over the last few years and it's great to see him back on track. Bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) | 3m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV