Paul Townend previews his weekend rides at Navan and Leopardstown

I only have the one tomorrow at Navan and it will be on Manitopark Aa (14.13) who seems to be improving with every run.

The mare that beat her in Fairyhouse went on and won again so hopefully this will be the day. I don’t think she needs to show an awful lot of improvement to be there or thereabouts.

Sunday

I have four rides at Leopardstown where the first is Fly Smart (14.10). He hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since October 2018.

He is a six-year-old now and has obviously had his troubles to not get him on the track before now. He has experience and I don’t think two and a half miles and a bit of drying ground will do him any harm.

It’s a belated start but hopefully it will be a good start, though there are plenty in there with good form.

Royal Illusion (15.15) will appreciate a bit of drying ground which we are expecting to get at Leopardstown.

She is in mares’ company having been a high-class filly on the Flat. The form of the race she was third in in Naas hasn’t worked out too bad. She has the benefit of a run over hurdles so hopefully she can do the business.

LIfe is getting harder for Klassy Kay (15.45) but she has been winning. She’s had a bit of a break between runs which I think is going to help her as her defeat in Clonmel came pretty soon after her previous win. Hopefully she has not finished improving yet.

Live Love Laugh (16.50) is a horse that seems to have lost his way for a little while. He ran a cracker over course and distance at the Dublin Festival.

He has a nice, competitive racing weight but he will have to put in a showing like he did the last day. Before that he had been disappointing but hopefully he will be back to his best form.

Paul