Paul Townend expects big things from Gaelic Warrior and State Man at Punchestown
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Ladbrokes ambassador and leading jockey Paul Townend spoke to us about his three exciting rides at Punchestown on Saturday.
He is one from one in bumpers for us, winning at the Punchestown Festival. He surprised Willie Mullins that day in terms of the ability he showed on the track. He won nicely there and he has come back a stronger horse again, and we hope he can start off nicely in this maiden hurdle.
Obviously, only having the one run means he lacks racing experience, but he seems to have a high level of ability. Henry De Bromhead’s Mossy Fen Park cost a lot of money after winning a point-to-point. He has jumping experience over us, as do a couple of others in the race. However, we like where our lad is and he is obviously a good horse on the track.
I have a very exciting ride in the Beginners’ Chase with Gaelic Warrior. He has been well touted for a lot of fancy races throughout the season but we will be hoping to get his season off to the best possible start here. His schooling has gone very well. He was meant to run last week but the meeting was cancelled. Punchestown is a good, fair track though and I am looking forward to getting him out there.
An Epic Song has high hurdle form and rated 140. There are a few more in here with runs over fences and every bit of experience helps. Cool Survivor is one example. He was runner up to Quilixios at Limerick.
Inothewayurthinkin of Gavin Cromwell’s wears a tongue strap for the first time and was second to Imagine at Fairyhouse at the start of the month. They have the experience over fences but we will be hoping for the best from Gaelic Warrior and that it leads to bigger and better things throughout the season.
I ride State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle. There are only the four runners here with two from Willie Mullins’ yard, and two from Gordon Elliott’s. On ratings, State Man is well ahead of Pied Piper.
Pied Piper is fit from running on the flat throughout the summer, so he has that advantage on us but on all known hurdles form, State Man looks the best by some way. He is in great form at home and is a personal favourite of mine.
He had a brilliant season last year bar running into Constitution Hill at Cheltenham, but other than that he had the perfect season. I hope we have another great season with him, kicking off here. He is my best ride of the day.
