Paul Townend Puchestown blog: Day one preview

Ladbrokes presents the first iteration of the Paul Townend Puchestown blog, with the top jockey previewing his rides for Day One of the festival.

Tullyhill was ultimately very disappointing in the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival. He jumped much better than he had been doing and travelled nicely on the frontend and got it handy but weakened tamely to finish a poor eight behind Slade Steel, Mystical Power, and Firefox.

He has plenty to find with those. On ratings, he is only rated two pounds behind Slade Steel, a pound ahead of Mystical Power, and three pounds ahead of Firefox. On his best day, he is very good. I am willing to put a line through Cheltenham. It was too bad to be true. He is going back right-handed which isn’t ideal as he tends to jump to his left, but his jumping at Cheltenham was much better. Punchestown on better ground will suit him.

He can definitely get a lot closer to the three who beat him at Cheltenham, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he could land a big blow in the race. Although, it remains a slight worry that we were beaten so well at Cheltenham.

Tullyhill odds: 13/2

I get the leg up on Gentleman De Mee who was runner up to Captain Guinness in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He has a few lengths to find on that form. He is a horse that is best in the springtime. I had a good spin off him earlier in the year at Leopardstown behind Dinoblue.

We take her on again. We have plenty to do to make up the ground on Dinoblue who gets the mares’ allowance. He turns up most days and he is a good solid performer. There isn’t a standout star horse this year. Captain Guinness deserves a shoutout. He is always there or thereabouts and is a Champion Chase winner now.

Banbridge was disappointing in the Ryanair but interesting he wears the cheekpieces here back to two miles. He will appreciate nicer ground. It’s a competitive race but I think Dinoblue is the deserved favourite and will take a lot of beating.

Gentleman De Mee odds: 5/1

This is a cracker of a race. Corbetts Cross was too good for him in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. I had won a couple of chases on him before that. Back to three miles will help him here and he is a good solid performer.

Monty’s Star was runner up to Fact To File who we all know is really good. To finish behind Fact To File the way he did was a huge run. Spillane’s Tower is a Grade 1 winner, he won a tactical race at Fairyhouse that day, and showed a bit of pace so we know he stays and is a huge talent.

Sharjah was a good winner in Ayr, but it was a hard enough run and it will be hard to turn up again ten days later after carrying top weight over three miles at Ayr.

Embassy Gardens odds: 3/1

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication

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