Trainer Emma Lavelle has confirmed Paisley Park will wear a heart monitor for training after a heart irregularity.
Paisley Park was the big favourite to defend his Stayers’ Hurdle title at last week’s Cheltenham Festival but, to the surprise of the onlookers, he finished a disappointing seventh of 15 runners.
After the race, the eight-year-old was found to have a heart irregularity but he has now been cleared by vets to return to training after undergoing further tests in Newmarket, which came back clear.
With British racing shutting down due to the coronavirus outbreak until the end of April, Paisley Park will have an extended summer to get back to full fitness and Lavelle has confirmed her charge will be fitted with a heart monitor for training.
“Some of the best horses are predisposed to this, making them that good but predisposed to electrical imbalances within their heart,” she told the Racing Post. “Paisley Park rectified everything of his own accord, which is very positive, and only 6% of horses have the symptoms reoccur.
“Regardless of him not running again this season it’s still important we run these tests. He will do enough, doing a swinging canter, and as long as he’s fine we will let him down for the summer.”
