Paul Townend: I do like my horse a lot; he is going the right way
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Jockey Paul Townend assesses the chances of his three rides at Limerick on Saturday and gives us his thoughts on Sunday’s Ladbrokes Munster National.
She is one from one for us, winning a bumper at Sligo in August. Her jumping has been good at home and this looks a nice opportunity for her. Paul Nolan’s Cut The Rope is also a bumper winner and he will probably give us the most to do. The ground will probably be a lot slower at Limerick than it was at Sligo but I don’t think that will hinder her. We like her and I hope she will be a nice recruit to hurdling.
This looks a good contest. Space Tourist was narrowly beaten by Hendry De Bromhead’s Popova last month and she takes her on here again at Limerick. We are 3lbs better off in the weights but there is not a lot between them. However, Riviere D’etel sets the standard on what she has achieved so far in her career. She is coming off the back of a couple of disappointing runs over fences at the end of last season, so it’ll be interesting to see if she finds her form again. We have race fitness in our favour.
He is three from three for us and he seems to be improving with all his runs. He was a very eye-catching winner over two-and-a-half miles at Listowel. The Big Doyen is a Galway Festival winner, having beaten What Path that day. We then beat What Path at Listowel, so going through that line of form, we hope we can repeat that. The Wallpark had a good win at Listowel and steps up in trip here. It’s a really good race and you can make a case for them all. I do like my horse a lot; he is going the right way and although he will have to run up to standard, I think he is my best ride of the day.
It is unlike us not to have a go at the Ladbrokes Munster National; a race Willie Mullins has won three of the last six. We don’t have any horses ready for it so it’s Gordon Elliott dominating with eight of the 13 runners.
Jack Kennedy has gone for Frontal Assault, who had a good run at Galway a few weeks ago to blow the cobwebs away and he should handle the ground well. The fact Jack picked him as well should be noted. Jordan Gainford has gone for Mars Harper, who is running off an all-time high mark, but he is having a great time of it of late.
However, you have to look at the bottom of the weights where Henry De Bromhead’s Walkaway stands out. Going through his form, he has plenty of decent runs behind a lot of good horses. The fact that he only has 10-4 on his back on very heavy ground will be every help, plus Rachael Blackmore is on board.
I think Gevrey will be popular. He was running a big race until he made a mistake at the third last in the Kerry National and pulled up after that. I would forgive him for that. ‘Pulled up’ beside his name doesn’t resemble his form. He was second in the Irish Grand National, he is sure to stay, and he will handle the ground. His jockey Ricky Doyle won the Kerry National and is in good form. I think he will there or thereabouts.
