Paul Townend blog: ‘I am looking forward to getting him going’
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The latest Paul Townend blog sees the Ladbrokes ambassador look forward to his two rides at Navan on Sunday.
Paul Townend blog
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 good company running behind King Of Kingsfield and Firefox in two maiden hurdles so far, so that is some valuable experience to call upon. Ascending sets the standard. He has been placed in numerous maiden hurdles without getting his head in front so when we have Ascending beat we will know all about. He is a horse we like at home and it will be nice to get him out on the track. I am looking forward to getting him going.
He was progressive horse over hurdles and that Beginners Chase he ran in at Fairyhouse seems to be red hot. He wasn’t beaten all that far and stepped up from that when beating Tactical Move who backed up the form at Gowran. He steps up in trip by three furlongs and I don’t think that will be a concern for him. He is a horse going the right way. It wasn’t an easy decision to leave Minella Cocooner who is a course and distance winner last time out. He is a Grade 1 novice hurdler from 2022 and was second to The Nice Guy in the Albert Bartlett so he was a high level horse. I could have egg on my face on Sunday afternoon. There is very little between them but I just went with the horse who I felt was on the improve. American Mike disappointed in the Grade 1 at Limerick over Christmas but he has form at Navan beating Fact To File who was so impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival. If he can return to that form, he would be hard to beat as well. It is a very competitive race and it’s hard to split them.
