Paul Townend looking forward to Grand National ride on Gaillard Du Mesnil
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After winning the Irish Grand National on I Am Maximus on Easter Monday, Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend is hoping to win the English version on board Gaillard Du Mesnil at Aintree. The three-time Gold Cup winner spoke to us about his hopes of winning the Grand National on Saturday.
The Grand National is a huge day and it is lovely to be a part of it. Hopefully, we get a bit of luck in it this year.
I am really looking forward to riding Gaillard Du Mesnil. He ran well in the Irish National last year and he is a Cheltenham Festival winner. I suppose he had a hard enough race at Cheltenham which isn’t ideal. I don’t know if the rain coming will help his chances over the trip but we can’t do anything about that. I think he will take to the race well but you don’t know until you try. He is a Grade One winner and a classy horse with a nice race weight, so I am looking forward to it.
Finishing with a flourish!
It didn't look likely at one stage, but the well-supported Gaillard Du Mesnil sends punters home happy with National Hunt Chase glory for Willie and Patrick Mullins.
What a day! #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/9yArWiD0L9
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2023
These races are coming hot and heavy, with the Irish Grand National gone by, and Punchestown coming up, but I am hoping we will be able to reflect on another National winner.
The weighing room is an interesting place before the Grand National. The loud lads can get quiet, and the quiet lads get louder. It’s a fun environment and after the race, it’s probably even livelier. We are like kids at Christmas, talking about how we all got on.
The atmosphere at Aintree is incredible but you are in the zone once you get out on the track. Waiting in the parade ring is the hard part. You just want to get up and get going.
I have been asked who the dangers are to my horse but all 39 other runners are dangers! It is a Grand National, anything can happen.
