Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Blog: Day Two Preview
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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.
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 miles, and won at Christmas over two-and-a-half-miles in a maiden hurdle. I think he will settle well; I have no problems with him settling and he is bred to get the trip. He is just a very good horse. Predator’s Gold was a little keen at the Dublin Racing Festival but he ran a creditable race. Ile Atlantique is the one horse of the meeting I’m really sorry I am not getting to ride. I was really sweet on him but I couldn’t overlook Ballyburn. I am sure Patrick will get a good spin on him. Ballyburn has done all the talking so far and I hope he can back it up on the track.
This looks a race between El Fabiolo, Jonbon, and Edwardstone. The latter looked really back to himself when winning the last day at Newbury and seemed to love it. He adds a new spin on the race if he can reproduce that. Two miles suits El Fabiolo and we come here on the back of a good win at the Dublin Racing Festival. He easily beat Dinoblue that day. Jonbon is coming here off the back of a defeat, but we seen how Energumene got beat in that same race last year and bounced back to take this race, so it can be done. I hope my horse can get the better of Jonbon again. Their form ties in very closely and it is one each. Hopefully we can go 2-1. I think he is my best ride of the day, but it’s hard picking between him and Ballyburn.
I had eight to choose from the in the bumper. Patrick had first choice and went for Jasmin De Vaux. I spent a lot of time listening to him and asking for his help sorting out the bumper horses. Between us all, himself, myself, and my agent, I have decided on Cantico. He ran in a very hot bumper at Leopardstown where he finished third. He stepped markedly forward on that when winning a small runner bumper on heavy ground at Navan, so he will handle the ground. He has a lovely attitude. I sat on him here on Monday morning and he felt really well, taking everything in. I am rolling the dice with him, but there is a lot of unknowns. I don’t think anyone in the camp is too bullish on anyone in particular.
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.
