Paul Townend: I Am Maximus looks a Christmas cracker
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Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend has ridden seven winners on the opening two days of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown.
The jockey discussed the prospects of Wednesday’s five rides and hopes for a big run from I Am Maximus.
She has good flat form and was well fancied on her first run over hurdles at Cork the last day but found Inothewayurthinkin too good. That form has been boosted again since. It is a good competitive race as you would imagine for a maiden at Leopardstown. Plenty of horses in there with good solid place form over hurdles already like ourselves. I will be disappointed if we can’t go one better than we did at Cork and I am looking forward to riding her.
He is a consistent sort who ran a very good race in the amateur handicap at Galway. He was kept busy during the summer running on the flat. He likes it around Leopardstown and runs well in these races but it is hard to find where we will get a bit of improvement from him.
He is on an all time high rating. He will run his race and if we can get into the places we will be very happy. I would be surprised if there wasn’t a few lurking down the field off fancier handicap marks than us.
Unfortunately I don’t ride Klassical Dream here but Saldier has the benefit of a couple of starts already this season. They have been quite disappointing to be honest. He led State Man for a while in the Morgiana Hurdle and that was an ok run but it turned into a bit of a dash. Then he was beaten by a long way in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle so we will be looking for his best performance here to get anywhere near Flooring Porter or Bob Olinger. I think three miles will suit him. He did pull up in the race last year but the benefit of the two runs already should see him fit and we will see what we can do.
This is a hot race. He ran a cracker in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal. His form around Leopardstown is brilliant and better there than any other track. He is consistent and will run his race. A Plus Tard comes back from a very disappointing run in England. Conflated was good around here last year. When they go by Kemboy they will know about it. He is in great form at home and I am looking forward to getting back on him at a track he loves. The less rain that falls will be a benefit.
This is my final ride of the day. He threw away a Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse which was his first start for us. He was jumping out to his left everywhere so the switch back to left-handed will be a big help to him.
His schooling had been brilliant. He was right in the shake-up at Fairyhouse and another couple of strides, he might have got back up. The cheek pieces are on and will hopefully help him concentrate. If he behaves himself, I think he is my best ride of the day.
