Paul Townend: Tax For Max and Jon Snow can thrive at Galway
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Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend has two rides at Galway on Tuesday and he spoke to us about their prospects.
He was a winner of a maiden on his last run at Punchestown. He is the highest-rated horse going into the race and has a high level of form in good handicaps throughout the winter. I hope he will be there or thereabouts.
Paul Townend's Banker of the Galway Festival@PTownend's banker of the festival is running today, find out what his NAP is here 👇 pic.twitter.com/m1nnXxbtqE
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) July 26, 2022
It is a competitive race, with the likes of Prairie Dancer for Joseph O’Brien. He comes here on the back of two wins over hurdles. Gordon Elliott’s horses are obviously flying and he has Amir Khabir in this. Plains Indian for Andy Slattery will give us plenty to think about as well. He did very well to get up in Ballinrobe two runs ago and backed that up with a good second in Roscommon, along with a good run on the flat since.
So, it won’t be an easy task but I wouldn’t swap Tax For Max for any of them. He acted around the track last year by finishing second to Farout. He will handle the track fine and is in very good form at home.
He is a horse I am really looking forward to going over fences with. We haven’t had the clearest of runs with him over the last couple of seasons. He is lightly raced but has run to a high level over hurdles. He had a good run back on the flat which should leave us spot on here.
Hannon was second in a competitive Beginners’ in Wexford and has the benefit of a run over fences now. Midnight Run ran in some very competitive Beginners Chases throughout the winter and wasn’t beaten all that far by some very good horses.
He has plenty of experience to call upon, plus a recent run on the flat for fitness as well. I think he will give us most to think about. My horse seems to be a natural over fences and I couldn’t be happier with him. I think he is my best ride of the entire meeting. He has course form and that can mean a lot in Galway.
