Paul Townend looks ahead to his rides at Leopardstown

Another busy day at Leopardstown for me where I start on Gaillard Du Mesnil (12.05). He has had the benefit of a run in a maiden which should have brought him on plenty.

The horse that beat him that day actually disappointed last week in Navan, but we think a bit of him. Hopefully that run will have brought him on. I’d say he doesn’t have to improve much from his first run to be involved here.

I think Dandy Mag (12.40) will benefit from the step up in trip. He didn’t disgrace himself in Naas and that should bring about a bit of improvement. On all recent form he has to return to his very best for this but if he did that he’d be a live outsider. We seem to be getting a clearer run with him than we have in the last couple of years.

I ride Bapaume (13.15) in the Christmas Hurdle. He is back over hurdles. I think we all have Sire Du Berlais to beat. He has run well around Leopardstown a few times and his run back over fences was good.

Reverting to hurdles won’t inconvenience him too much. He’s a winner of the Prix La Barka in France previously. He will put up a good performance again.

Ronald Pump will take a bit of beating as well from last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle and the run behind Honeysuckle.

I had five to choose from in the Savills Chase and I have gone for Allaho (14.25). It was hard to split them. Kemboy sets the standard on ratings, but I’ve gone with the horse who is open to the most improvement.

He is tied in closely with Minella Indo’s form. I think there is bit more to come from him. He was a bit disappointing behind Min from what we’ve seen of the race but David Mullins says there were excuses for that. He made a couple of mistakes. We hope we haven’t seen the best of him yet and he can step up to the top table this time round.

I ride The Big Getaway (15.00) in the beginners chase. He stopped quickly in Navan and the better ground at Leopardstown will suit him. He jumped brilliant so touch wood he can jump as well at Leopardstown. 

He has probably promised more than he has produced so far. We think an awful lot of him at home but has let us down the odd time. His home work is very good and hopefully he can produce that on the track.

Paul