Two-time Gold Cup winner Paul Townend excited by Cheltenham Festival prospects
Published:
Excitement is building for the start of the Cheltenham Festival and Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend sat down with us to discuss his hopes for the greatest National Hunt meeting.
Townend counting on lucky week
The atmosphere is so unique at Cheltenham and it is already starting to bubble. You hear about the famous ‘Cheltenham Roar’ and it really does get the hairs standing on the back of your neck. Going to the start for the Supreme is like nothing else. It’s amazing. The volume of noise. You don’t get it anywhere else. It is such a buzz.
In Cheltenham you need a lot of luck. There are plenty of times I have picked the wrong horse but that’s how it goes. I have been very lucky as well and I am hoping for the same next week.
The Irish bring a huge team across the water and although we won the Prestbury Cup well last year, I think the British have a lot of live chances that we need to be fearful of.
6 days until Cheltenham! 🏇@Ladbrokes ambassadors @DSkeltonRacing & @PTownend talk top tips ahead of the Greatest Show On Turf.
🐎 Midnight River
🐎 Langer Dan
🐎 Impaire Et PasseWhat's your top tip for #CheltenhamFestival? pic.twitter.com/davTcrHAiY
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) March 8, 2023
Among my best chances of the festival is Facile Vega. I won’t give up on him. To win the first race on the first day would be just brilliant. I have forgiven him for Leopardstown and I hope he has forgiven me. The feeling I get off him is so special and I hope we can get off to the right start.
Another of mine I really like, and feel has been forgotten about is Impaire Et Passe who runs in the Ballymore. He deserves attention. I loved what he did in the Moscow Flyer. He is a relaxed horse, so the venue won’t get to him. He will love Cheltenham and I think he is a horse with a huge future.
There doesn’t seem to be any fault in Constitution Hill. He has a lovely temperament, jumps brilliantly, has speed and stays. Nico De Boinville was trying to slow him down coming down the hill last year, he was that fast. Speaking to the riders who have ridden against him, he just blows everyone away.
I fell in the Supreme last year but I know just how fast we were going. We will go out and make a plan but I think State Man is the best of the Irish. Unfortunately, we could just be running into an absolute superstar. I have to ride the race with Constitution Hill in it but at the same time you can’t just ride to beat one horse. You can get too caught up in riding to beat one horse I think.
7 days until Cheltenham! 🏇@Ladbrokes ambassadors @DSkeltonRacing & @PTownend sat down to chat about some very special horses.
💫 Constitution Hill
💫 Galopin Des Champs
💫 ProtektoratWhich horses at #CheltenhamFestival do you think have star quality? pic.twitter.com/oF99iZAAf7
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) March 7, 2023
The Clarence House Chase was a big indicator for the Champion Chase. I think we very much underperformed on the day and I wasn’t happy from the time he [Energumene] turned at the top of the hill. I don’t think Editeur Du Gite will have it his own way in front here and I can see him getting taken on more on the other track at Cheltenham. I thought Edwardstone probably came out of the Clarence House Chase with the most credit even though he didn’t win. We learnt a lot from that race and we know what Energumene is capable of.
I think the ground will play a big part in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Teahupoo has taken a big step forward this year but all on soft ground. Obviously he downed Honeysuckle at Fairyhouse earlier in the year. Klassical Dream hasn’t been seen since then but his racing has been a lot more relaxed this year and towards the end of last year. There are a lot of question marks about the horses coming here. There isn’t a stand-out horse but it’s brilliant to have such an open race.
The Gold Cup is the biggest race of the year and it’s got a serious bit of spice to it. Galopin Des Champs is the novice coming through and we have some unfinished business from last year. He is such a genuine horse and I wouldn’t swap him for anything.
I don’t think it matters if the race is run fast or slow. From a rider’s point of view, you don’t want a slow race because when it’s a good even gallop the best horse normally wins and I think I have the best horse in the race. I can’t look beyond him.
A Plus Tard was unbelievable in the race last year but his prep this year hasn’t been ideal. Obviously Henry De Bromhead has the knack of getting them ready for these big races.
This race is open and there are a lot of good horses in there. My horse is probably too short for a Gold Cup but having been there and done it is a nice feeling; knowing that you will get the trip.
