Cheltenham: Paisley Park favored in Stayers' Hurdle

Paisley Park was a popular winner of the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle as the 6-5 favorite at Cheltenham Racecourse in 2019, rolling from the back of the field to take the lead after the final obstacle in the three-mile race.

Last year, Paisley Park was seventh at odds of 4-6 in the Stayers’ Hurdle, never playing a factor. He was later diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Lisnagar Oscar won the Stayers’ Hurdle at 50-1.

This year, Paisley Park will be favored again to win Thursday’s $333,432 Stayers’ Hurdle following a winter campaign of two starts – a second in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November and a win in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Dec. 19.

In those races, the 9-year-old Paisley Park won or finished second to Thyme Hill, who will miss the Stayers’ Hurdle because of a pulled muscle diagnosed last week.

Lisnagar Oscar is part of a field of 15, but is winless in three starts since late October in the current jump racing season. Trained by Rebecca Curtis, Lisnagar Oscar underwent a breathing operation in December, and was a decent second in his only subsequent start in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle at 3 1/16 miles at Haydock Park on Feb. 20.

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Paisley Park, trained by Emma Lavelle, has won 9 of 14 starts over hurdles. While his closing kick in 2019 drew a thunderous reception from a huge crowd, the stands are quiet at Cheltenham this week. No fans are in attendance because of the pandemic.

The Stayers’ Hurdle is one of three Grade 1 races on a seven-race program that begins at 9:20 a.m. Eastern. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The richest race of the day is the $368,164 Ryanair Chase at 2 1/2 miles, which is expected to be dominated by three runners trained by Willie Mullins of Ireland – Allaho, Min, and Melon.

Allaho was third in a Grade 1 Novices’ Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham festival and won a prep race for the Ryanair Chase in the Grade 2 Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase at 2 1/2 miles at Thurles Racecourse in Ireland on Jan. 27.

Min won the 2020 Ryanair Chase. This season, Min won the Grade 1 John Durkan Punchestown Chase at 2 9/16 miles at Punchestown on Dec. 6, but was pulled up after a jumping mistake four fences from the finish of the Grade 1 Dublin Chase at 2 1/16 miles at Leopardstown on Feb. 6.

The day’s first race, the $182,345 Marsh Novices’ Chase at about 2 1/2 miles, will have the shortest-priced favorite on the card in Envoi Allen, who was 4-6 with British bookmakers as of Tuesday. Envoi Allen is undefeated in three starts over fences in Ireland this year.

Envoi Allen was trained for those races by Gordon Elliott, who was suspended for six months in early March by Irish racing officials after a 2019 photo emerged on social media of him sitting on a deceased horse in a paddock. Envoi Allen was one of several horses trained by Elliott that were recently transferred to Henry De Bromhead.

Honeysuckle wins 11th straight in Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle extended her unbeaten record to 11 races with a commanding win by 6 1/2 lengths in Tuesday’s Grade 1 Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham festival.

Honeysuckle was ridden by top Irish jump jockey Rachael Blackmore, who became the first woman rider to win the $469,372 Champion Hurdle at two miles.

Blackmore kept Honeysuckle in the middle of a field of 10 until the final half-mile when she moved the 7-year-old mare into contention. Honeysuckle took the lead before the eighth and final hurdle and was well clear of runner-up Sharjah at the finish.

Blackmore, 31, has ridden Honeysuckle in all 11 of her races under rules. Honeysuckle won a point-to-point race on the Irish amateur circuit in 2018.

Blackmore is currently the second-leading jump racing jockey in Ireland with 84 wins, six less than leader Paul Townend.

Honeysuckle, trained by De Bromhead for owner Kenny Alexander, paid $3.60 in American pools.