Jockey Richard Johnson is hoping to steer Thyme Hill to glory at Ascot on Saturday but is expecting a stern test from Paisley Park.
Thyme Hill won three of his four starts in the novice hurdling division last season, with his only loss coming in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.
The six-year-old made a winning return to action when claiming the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month, beating favourite Paisley Park by a-length-and-a-half, with Johnson on board.
Johnson is eyeing a repeat of that result in the Grade 1 Porsche Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday but acknowledges it won’t be easy.
“He’s in very good form. Hopefully he can build on his Newbury performance in what is a very good renewal of the race,” Johnson said.
“It’s going to take a lot of winning, but obviously I wouldn’t swap Thyme Hill for anything else.
“I was very pleased with him at Newbury. It’s going to be testing conditions on Saturday, and whatever wins the race is going to have to put up a good performance.
“In these races, there’s nowhere to hide.”
