Ahead of one of the biggest days in the horse racing calendar, Ladbrokes is back with the 2024 edition of the Paul Townend Grand National blog, with the leading jockey previewing his rides at Aintree and the prospect of I Am Maximus in the prestigious 4pm race. Paul Townend Grand National blog Jimmy Du Seuil – 1.55 Aintree He was a good second to Ballyburn at Cheltenham. It wasn’t an easy decision... more...
Ladbrokes presents the latest Paul Townend Aintree blog, with the leading jockey previewing his rides ahead of tomorrow’s Grand National. Paul Townend blog Ocastle Des Mottes – 2.20 Aintree He was a big fancy at Newbury but ran a bit keen and petered out late on. Then at Cheltenham he was a little bit free again so he will have to settle much better. I think with the couple of runs under hi... more...
Ahead of the 2024 Grand National this weekend, Ladbrokes is back with the Paul Townend Aintree blog with the leading jockey’s thoughts on his rides on Thursday. Paul Townend Aintree blog Il Etait Temps – 1.45 Aintree He is a horse that looked like a step up in trip might help him at Cheltenham. He ran a cracker behind Gaelic Warrior over this trip at Limerick at Christmas. He was only 5 ½ le... more...
With no racing on Saturday and just one ride on Sunday, Ladbrokes presents the Paul Townend Grand National blog this week, with the leading jockey stating that he’d ‘love a win’ on the biggest stage. Paul Townend Grand National blog I would love to win a Grand National. It is missing from my CV. I am not sure what I am going to ride yet. Mark Walsh will have the pick of JP McManu... more...
We’re back with another Paul Townend blog, which sees the leading jockey and Ladbrokes ambassador preview his rides at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Paul Townend blog Butcher Hollow- 2.10 Fairyhouse He had some good place form in maidens throughout the season. He wears a tongue strap for the first time and I hope that will help him. He’s gone on heavy ground a few times and I think the tongue stra... more...
With the majority of the festival now in the books, Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival blog is back with the leading jockey sharing his thoughts on Gold Cup day to finish things off. Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival blog Storm Heart – 1.30 Cheltenham With Sir Gino coming out of this race, it has opened right up. Willie has a strong hand here and it was a huge headache for me. I have gone with Storm ... more...
After a rather successful two days this week, the Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival blog is back with the leading jockey sharing his thoughts on day three. Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Blog Facile Vega – 1.30 Chelteham He’s been turned over on the last two occasions over two miles. His last run was better than that at Christmas in my opinion. I do feel the step up in trip could bring about a bi... more...
After a rather successful day yesterday, where he rode three of the seven winners, the Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival blog is back with the leading jockey sharing his thoughts on day two. Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival blog Ballyburn – 1.30 Cheltenham It’s a small field with just eight runners and Willie [Mullins] has five of them. Ballyburn was very good at the Dublin Racing Festival over two... more...
Ladbrokes presents its first Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Blog, with the leading jockey sharing his insight into the first day of action. Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Blog Tullyhill – 1.30 Cheltenham Tullyhill is a high-class bumper horse. His jumping has improved a lot with every run and I think he is a very good horse. He was better the second time out at Naas and then better again at Pu... more...
In the latest Paul Townend blog for Ladbrokes, the leading jockey discusses the prospects of his rides at Naas on Sunday afternoon. Paul Townend blog Olympic Man – 1.07 Naas He ran a cracker at the Galway Festival on his first run for us, coming third. He got turned over at very short odds back there in October and I was disappointed. We haven’t seen him since but his work at home has been good an... more...
In the latest Paul Townend blog for Ladbrokes, the leading jockey discusses the prospects of his rides at Navan and Leopardstown Paul Townend blog Saturday – Special Cadeau- 3.15 Navan I expect him to improve plenty for his run in Naas first time out. That was over 2m3f, and he steps up here. That was a promsing run and I think he can build on that. Kinturk Kalanisi brings some nice form in ... more...
In the latest Paul Townend blog for Ladbrokes, the leading jockey discusses the prospects of his rides at Naas on Sunday, with Ferny Hollow the most interesting. Paul Townend blog Tounsivator – 1.55 Naas He hasn’t been seen in a while since his last run in France. He ran to a high enough level over there, albeit over staying trips on a bit better ground. It looks a nice opportunity for him. There ... more...
In the latest Paul Townend blog for Ladbrokes, the leading jockey discusses the prospects of his rides at Gowran Park on Saturday and at Punchestown on Sunday Paul Townend blog Saturday – Pigeon House – 1.42 Gowran Park He’s had some nice runs in maidens. He has a rating of 119 and I think that can make him very competitive. He’s sure to run a nice race. His form ties in with Lark In ... more...
The latest Paul Townend blog sees the Ladbrokes ambassador look forward to his two rides at Navan on Sunday. Paul Townend blog Gaucher – 1.45 Navan Gaucher is a French recruit who does things nicely at home. He has got plenty of experience of running on the flat in France. He lacks a bit of jumping experience compared to a number of the horses in here. Noel Meade’s Hevlic Dream has been keeping go... more...
With just two rides tomorrow at Naas, the latest Paul Townend blog has the Ladbrokes ambassador declaring Captain Cody as his ‘best chance of a winner’. Paul Townend blog Captain Cody – 1.55 Naas He was a good winner of the Ladies Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles at Gowran. His bumper form is very solid. He ran a cracking race in the Champion Bumper behind A Dream To Share. He beat Bli... more...
Paul Townend has previewed Day Two of the Dublin Racing Festival in his latest exclusive blog with Ladbrokes. The leading jockey also looked at the action on Day One (Saturday). Gaelic Warrior 1.10 – Leopardstown Gaelic Warrior steps up to the 2m5f race, the Ladbrokes Novice Chase. Obviously there was talk of going for the shorter race, but he steps up here. There are five declared including Found... more...
The Dublin Racing Festival takes place this weekend, and Ladbrokes presents its preview of the first day in the latest Paul Townend blog. It is the Dublin Racing Festival and I have four very, very good rides today. I start by riding Predators Gold in the Novice Hurdle (1.20). He was runner up in a Grade 1 here at Christmas to Caldwell Potter. He steps back up in trip here after winning a maiden h... more...
Paul Townend, in his latest blog for Ladbrokes, has previewed his rudes at Navan and Thurles on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday Dr Eggman – 1.20 Navan Dr Eggman was third on his first start over hurdles behind Caldwell Potter. He went on to win a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas. That was a nice promising run and a lot of ours were obviously taking the run at the time. I hope he can build on t... more...
Exclusively with Ladbrokes, Paul Townend has previewed his three runners on Sunday afternoon at Punchestown, including revealing who his ‘best ride’ on the day will be. Blood Destiny – 1.05 Punchestown Blood Destiny took to fences really well, winning first time out at Naas. He was a high-level juvenile last year. Obviously his season petered out a little bit after Cheltenham where he ... more...
Paul Townend has previewed his runners with Ladbrokes ahead of three races at Fairyhouse on Saturday afternoon. Miss Manzor – 12.12 Fairyhouse She is a nice filly who ran ok at Leopardstown but was a winner in her native France before we got her. I think she will step up here. She has come on plenty for that run on St Stephen’s Day. Our other runner here, Karia Des Blaises ran in the same race fin... more...
Paul Townend reflects on a successful Christmas campaign and looks ahead to the Gold Cup Galopin Des Champs had a lot of questions to answer after his defeats at the Punchestown Festival and in the John Durkan, but he put in a huge performance at Leopardstown. I rode him differently, he seemed to be very sweet, and he jumped brilliantly. Fastorslow was a non-runner on the day, and it’s impossible ... more...
Paul Townend tells Ladbrokes that he hopes that Brandy Love “can go one better” in her 12:30 race at Naas on Sunday. Brandy Love – 12.30 Naas Brandy Love was runner-up to Harmonya Maker on her first run over fences for us at Gowran earlier in the season. Again, a lot of ours were taking a run at the time. She jumped well on that occasion. We would be hoping she can build on that, and ... more...
In an exclusive blog with Ladbrokes, Paul Townend looks forward to his two rides at Crok on Saturday Saturday Rides Paggane – 12.12 Cork I have an easy day Cork with just the two rides, but both have good chances. Paggane had one run for us in November where she was a bit disappointing at Navan. A lot of ours were taking the run at the time so hopefully she will have come on for that. She was a wi... more...
I Will Be Baie – 12.40 Fairyhouse He’s had three runs for us finishing second, first and second in bumpers. So he sets a good standard. He’s a point-to-point winner. He jumps well at home. He’s unproven on the ground. Gordon Elliott’s My Trump Card has recent race fitness on his side on testing ground, which is a big advantage. It looks like a match between the two and I am sure he will come... more...
The jockey discusses the prospects of his five rides at Leopardstown on Thursday
In his exclusive blog, the jockey discusses the prospects of his upcoming rides at Kempton and Leopardstown
In his exclusive blog, the jockey discusses the prospects of his rides at Leopardstown on Friday
The jockey discusses the prospects of his four weekend rides at Fairyhouse and Thurles