Paul Townend: Ho My Lord best ride of the day at Navan
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Ladbrokes ambassador Paul Townend reflects on the Dublin Racing Festival and looks ahead to the weekend rides at Naas and Navan in his latest blog.
I just have the one ride on Saturday and that is on Elimay in the Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas (3.25). She was a Cheltenham Festival winner last year. She had a poor run at Clonmel but that was too bad to be true and I hope she can come back to her best form.
She has all the experience in the race. There is plenty of pace in the race too. Dinoblue is only a novice of JP McManus’s but has been running to a good level since going over fences. She gets plenty of weight off us and it will be interesting to see how it works out. If you can forgive Elimay for her last run, I think she sets the standard here.
Irish Gold Cup success proves Galopin Des Champs on right track
Galopin Des Champs was really good in winning the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend. I was so happy with him. He settled brilliantly again, like he did in the John Durkan, and is maturing all the time.
I love the way he quickened after getting impeded at the last. When I gave him a flick behind the saddle, he really picked up and galloped out through the line strongly. He is certainly going in the right direction.
Constitution Hill sets the standard
As for State Man in the Champion Hurdle, it wasn’t ideal to have to make the running in a competitive race like that, but he was also professional in doing so. I was always in my comfort zone on him. He jumped much slicker, like a Champion Hurdle horse should. He quickened really well from the back of the second last, around the bend and going up the straight. He has improved since Christmas. We won’t know if we are good enough yet until we take on Constitution Hill, who looks electric across the pond.
Slight concerns over Gaelic Warrior
Gaelic Warrior beat a very competitive field in the big handicap to throw his name into the hat for a step up to Grade 1 company next time. He still jumped a bit right at the last which is a little worry, but he was on his own. There are a few things we can try with him. He did look to go right at Cheltenham last year as well so it’s something for us to work on at home. He is going the right way.
I felt Blue Lord was flat throughout the race, and with Facile Vega, we got the tactics wrong, going too hard too early and he was beaten a long way from home. Lossiemouth ran into traffic problems, but I think she was the unluckiest horse all weekend.
Sunday
He has been off the track 412 days. He ran well in his only run for us. This is a competitive race and he lacks a bit of race fitness. He will give a good account of himself and we are hoping for the best.
He only got as far as the second hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas under Mark Walsh. His schooling has been fine since and he is working really well. We like him a lot and hope he can make up for the disappointment. He is my best ride of the day.
Willie runs two in this. Hunters Yarn who I ride, and Tactical Move who Bryan Cooper will ride. Tactical Move was a good winner at Punchestown the last day, so it was hard to pick. I have gone with Hunters Yarn because Tactical Move had been off the track for so long and had quite a hard race the last day.
My horse’s bumper form is very good and I was impressed with him winning at Naas. It is a good race though. American Mike blotted his copy book the last day at Navan when beaten. His bumper form was good last year though and he is a horse Gordon Elliott is mad about so you have to respect that. I think Hunters Yarn has a bright future ahead of him.
The switch back to hurdles to win at Punchestown and beat Any Second Now was a good performance. He likes to get on with it but hopefully after having a run this season, the freshness will have been knocked out of him. Blazing Khal is a very good horse for Charles Byrne. He will take a bit of beating in the race but is off the track a long time. I would imagine he has bigger plans later in the season.
He won well, beating Telmesomethinggirl at Thurles earlier in the season, but fell on his next run. I hope that hasn’t left a mark on him. Mahler Mission was very impressive over course and distance the last day. Darrens Hope pulled up in the Thyestes Chase only two weeks ago. Churchstonewarrior ran very well behind Gaillard Du Mesnil in a Grade 1 and will take a bit of beating as well. The step up in trip is a bit of an unknown for my horse but I think it will bring about improvement.
