Paul Townend Aintree blog: ‘He could run a nice race at a big price’
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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
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 lengths behind there. I think he has a huge chance at this trip. He is settling a lot better now. He still wears the hood but that gives him a better chance to get the trip. Obviously the two English horses, Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny, set the standard. They put up two brilliant performances in the Turners at Cheltenham. I thought they had hard races that day. Obviously, mine ran in the Arkle and didn’t have an easy time either but I am giving him a big shout. I think he has a big chance up in trip and he probably isn’t getting the credit he deserves for being a runner up to Gaelic Warrior. He then won at the Dublin Racing Festival too, before running ok at Cheltenham.
Only Majborough was too good for Kargese at Cheltenham. I am robbing her off Danny [Mullins]. I haven’t ridden her on the track before but have ridden her plenty at home. She is a tough cookie and very solid. She can run keen enough but she stays going well. Sir Gino is the interesting one here missing Cheltenham late on. He comes here as a fresh horse and a lot of eyes will be on Nicky Henderson’s horses. On what he has done, he looks very good. On official ratings, we are only rated 4lbs behind him. Getting the mares allowance actually brings us in front of him but it doesn’t always work that way. I also think Joseph O’Brien’s horse, Intellotto, can run a big race. He’s unexposed, won nicely at Christmas, and then again at Limerick before Cheltenham. He has 9l to make up with Kargese from Leopardstown but we haven’t seen the very best of him yet. He could run a nice race at a big price.
He was runner-up to State Man at Christmas. Daryl Jacob tried something different at the Dublin Racing Festival and opted to make the running and he didn’t enjoy that and was beaten by 10l. Bob Olinger was second that day and they reoppose again here. Bob Olinger has found his mojo again and looks back to his best this season so it’ll be an intriguing clash. They both come here fresh and both will be suited by the trip. I think Impaire Et Passe is my best ride of the day.
