The engine wasn’t what it was, they said. At ten years old the spark that had once made him a champion was flickering only intermittently at best. The fire in his belly had gone out. There had been five runs since his last victory and when Paisley Park, a horse who once nearly died of colic, whipped round at the start of Cheltenham’s Cleeve Hurdle last Saturday and gave his four top-class rivals a start of some 15 lengths it seemed all over. Ruby Walsh, the greatest Cheltenham jockey of them all, was watching for ITV. Asked if he would now persevere on Paisley Park he replied: ‘No, you don’t. You just give up and come back to the parade ring. He’s going round now in a race he can’t possibly win.’
Among others Paisley Park faced the odds-on favourite Champ, renowned for his finish up the Cheltenham hill. But by eight hurdles from the finish, Aidan Coleman had slowly, patiently attached his mount to the other runners. Six out he was among the pack. At the second-last obstacle he was still fifth of five, looking held. But at the final hurdle horse and rider found new reserves to take the lead and up the hill he sprinted away from Champ to achieve his third victory in the race by more than three lengths. Roared home by a crowd who knew they were witnessing racing history, Paisley Park had achieved the impossible. Aidan Coleman’s modest and heartfelt post-race interview was a classic too: ‘The longevity of this horse. It’s a testament to his ability and his character. I’m not saying I did anything. He takes all the plaudits. I literally threw the buckle at him as we went to the first and said: “If you want to get into it you do it.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in