Paul Townend previews Easter rides at Fairyhouse
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Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend discusses his rides over the Easter weekend
Saturday
He ran okay in the County Hurdle for a horse having only his fourth run over hurdles. He was only beaten just over 13 lengths.
He is obviously stepping up to three miles now so hopefully the experience gained from running in a big handicap and the extra distance will bring about a bit of improvement.
He has a lot of weight to carry with 11st 6lb, so it will have to. We are hopeful of a big run.
He also ran in the County Hurdle. He’s been busy since winning at Galway for us in 2021 and kept on the go.
He has a bit of experience, including some good runs in Grade 1 races.
His form ties in with Mighty Potter and Three Stripe Life so if he can reproduce that level of form he has to be bang there.
A race like the County can make a man of these novices. He’s a competitive each-way ride.
Sunday
She will have to behave herself a lot better than she did here the last day when she hung off the track with me and her jumping at the second last left a bit to be desired.
She is a mare with an awful lot of ability. She had to be withdrawn the morning of the race at Cheltenham so we didn’t get to see her there.
She is a point-to-point winner so the step up in trip will be no problem to her. She wears a hood for the first time and that will be a help. It’s a big runner field. I think she has an awful lot of ability.
To finish second the last day doing what she did was a huge performance. If she just behaves herself, I think she can go one better.
He has shown no ill-effects from Cheltenham at home. He seems in great form.
It wasn’t as though he got a pearler of a fall or anything. It didn’t happen that day but he is the horse they have to beat in this. He is so exciting.
Two and a half miles is ideal and the ground should be in lovely condition. He looks potentially the most exciting horse around at the moment.
I hope I can stay on his back this time. It’s a good race, a Grade 1, and I’m talking like he just has to turn up.
He is going to have to perform and if he does he is the one they have to beat.
Monday
He is only a novice. He was a good hurdler and each run over fences has been that little bit better.
The ground will be better than it was at Cheltenham. The trip is an unknown. My worry is the weight.
They are claiming off the three horses above him in the handicap so he is going to carry the most weight in the race, which isn’t ideal.
We couldn’t be happier with him, we would just like to have seven or eight pounds less on his back.
There are a lot of horses there at around 11st or less that are going to be competitive.
He couldn’t be going there in better form but it is a big ask to carry that amount of weight.
