Paisley Park to have further tests for irregular heartbeat

PA Sport Reporters
March 14, 2020 6:30 pm

Emma Lavelle’s runner finished seventh in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Paisley Park is set to undergo tests in Newmarket on Sunday after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat following his Cheltenham defeat on Thursday.

The eight-year-old was a hot favourite to defend his Stayers’ Hurdle title after winning his previous seven starts, but he could finish only seventh on the day.

While trainer Emma Lavelle reports Paisley Park’s heart to have returned to normal, he will now be given a thorough examination.

Lavelle told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s absolutely fine.

“His heart has gone back into normal rhythm and he will go to Newmarket (equine hospital) tomorrow – he’s going to have some scans and whatever, to make sure everything is working normally, and a few tests.

“But I expect he should be absolutely fine. He’s certainly not the first to have gone through that – the likes of Faugheen did it last year at Aintree, and Sprinter Sacre did something similar, but his took a bit longer to get back into rhythm.

“It’s not the end of the world.

“It’s disappointing, of course, but at least he lives to fight another day.

“It was beating in a very odd fashion post-race, but at least it righted itself, and we hope it won’t give him any problems going forward.

“It was just the wrong day for it to happen.”