Cheltenham top racing tip (1535): Paisley Park lines up Cleeve Hurdle four-timer
Paisley Park
The top-class action is relentless at Cheltenham on Saturday, with seven classy performers contesting the Cleeve Hurdle offering the prospect of another thrilling race on Festival Trials Day.
15:35 Cheltenham: McCoy Contractors Cleeve Hurdle (3 miles)
Although it would be unwise to rule out any of the high-quality hurdlers here, it would be a major surprise if the eventual winner comes from outside the four market leaders.
Dashel Drasher was only once outside the first two in his six outings last season, and confirmed that form when holding off Paisley Park by a head in Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle in November. He was then third behind Crambo in the Long Walk, and having finished second in this race last year, he has to enter the reckoning again here.
Harry Cobden picks up the ride of 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats here, and as he explains in his PlanetSportBet blog, the nine-year-old’s Irish connections would not have considered sending him over for this stamina test if they did not fancy his chances of showing more progress over smaller obstacles.
WATCH: Harry Cobden weighs up his seven Cheltenham rides
Nicky Henderson’s Champ also has a chance if able to build on his fourth-of-nine in the Long Walk at Ascot last month, but all those options considered, it’s hard to look past the popular Paisley Park to defy his advancing years and land this renewal for the fourth time.
Winner of the Long Walk (run at Kempton) in 2022, his two runs this season have proved that he still has his usual appetite for success in his 12-year-old-belly.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Paisley Park wins, get a £5 Free Bet
Narrowly beaten when six pounds worse off than Dashel Drasher in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, he left the same rival six lengths behind when competing on level terms in last month’s Long Walk, only to miss out by a short head to younger legs of the highly-rated Crambo.
He is likely to be sent off as favourite, both in the betting and among the Cheltenham crowd, and if he has continued to produce good work at home for Emma Lavelle, then he should turn up in prime shape to land a very popular win under Thomas Bellamy.
Suggested best bet: Paisley Park in the 15:35 at Cheltenham
- Tip advised by Hermes Tips on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Saturday ITV racing tips: Best bets for Cheltenham and Doncaster on January 27
