Paul Townend discusses his rides at Fairyhouse and Punchestown

I am in action at Fairyhouse on Saturday. My first ride is Great White Shark (12.25) for Willie Mullins.

She had a high enough rating on the Flat, rated 85. She is a nice jumping recruit for us.

It’s a hot maiden though with the likes of Caravation who ran a good solid race over hurdles at Naas just behind Relegate. She also has experience and fitness over us so sets the standard.

Tens Or Better won a bumper the other day at Punchestown and Kingston Girl drops back to a maiden after being second to Moskovite at Navan who won again over Christmas.

So it’s a hot race but we are hopeful ours can come up to standard. She’s been off the track for a while but is doing nice work and jumping well.

Brosna George (1.35) is a horse that has improved but this is a big step up in class for him compared to what he has been running in. He is off a career high mark as well.

On the other hand when horses win like he did it’s hard to know when they stop improving. He has been winning convincingly and hopefully he can improve a bit again.

Great Khan (2.45) was second to one of the Gigginstown horses on New Year’s Day. It was a big improvement on his previous run.

He is probably better over further so going back in trip is not ideal for him. He might find these a bit hot.

Stowaway Forever (3.20) has a chance on his best form but he is a tricky customer to get it right with. He can run well without winning.

I was third with him over two miles a couple of runs ago. I thought that was a nice run. The step up trip will help him as he was running well when he fell in Navan at the third last.

On Sunday I will be Punchestown where I have two rides.

I’ve picked up a nice spare in the Grade 3 Novice Chase for Gordon Elliott in Blow By Blow (1.15).

He is a good horse on his day and probably better over further as well. Two and a half miles might be sharp enough for him on good ground.

Connections have a more fancied one in Gun Digger but he is a nice ride to pick up.

It’s a hot enough race with the likes of Winter Escape and Jetz not going to be easily beaten. The horse at the bottom A Plus Tard gets a big pull at the weights.

So we are probably up against it but I am delighted to get the ride for the connections. He is no back number on his day.

Buildmeupbuttercup (2.50) went to the last like she was going to win very impressively when I rode her at Navan and just tied up going up the hill, winning by half a length.

She was very keen that day but I think she will improve a lot for it.

She was a good mare on the level before we got her. The mares allowance will help her here. I hope the run will have brought her on a little bit and I think she is a good prospect.

Willie runs Harrie as well who I won a maiden on over further. He drops back to two miles but I am happy enough to be on my one.

We are banking on her improving as much as we think she has from her first run.

Great White Shark has the most potential of my rides at Fairyhouse and Buildmeupbuttercup would be my best chance at Punchestown.

Paul