Lavelle relishing Thyme Hill battle

Emma Lavelle has every intention of taking Paisley Park to Aintree on Saturday for the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle.

The nine-year-old finished third, five lengths behind winner Flooring Porter, when last seen in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

Trainer Lavelle has high hopes for this weekend’s outing at Aintree when Paisley Park will renew his rivalry with Thyme Hill.

The pair last clashed in November at Newbury when Thyme Hill earned a one-and-a-half-length victory and Lavelle is relishing the chance to come out on top this time around.

Lavelle said: “Paisley Park is very much an intended runner on Saturday. He’s in good form and it’s all systems go.

“Aintree is obviously a different type of track to Cheltenham, but I’m very happy with how he is and I’m looking forward to the rematch with Thyme Hill and a few others.

“He’s won over two and a half miles at Aintree and I don’t think tracks really matter to him, to be honest.

“He’s definitely a bit sharper all round since he ran at Cheltenham, so hopefully it will work out on Saturday.”