Paul Townend- Galway Hurdle Day
Published:
Pink In The Park – 2.10 Galway
She’s taken nicely to jumping fences at home but lacks a bit of experience against some of these. If she can put her best foot forward, she definitely has a chance. She ran well at the course over hurdles last year, beaten only seven lengths by The Big Doyen. Her last run at the Curragh in an amateur flat race was decent; she was only beaten by Williamstowndancer by just over four lengths and he is well fancied for the Galway Hurdle. It’s a big ask for her first run over fences but she is coming here in good form.
Saylavee – 2.45 Galway
She’s one from two over fences. She won nicely for me at Killarney first time out. She is dropping well back in trip here but gets an awful lot of weight off many of these. Ashdale Bob is the most interesting runner and the highest-rated hurdler by far in this race. I think he will take a lot of beating around here. My horse has a nice weight, her jumping is solid and Galway will suit her at the trip. We are hoping for a good run out of her.
Ninth Titan – 4.30 Galway
He was very disappointing last year and just never turned up; it was too bad to be true. He won nicely then on his next run around Tramore. The trip here isn’t a worry, he is a big horse who covers plenty of ground. I am looking forward to riding him a lot. Just For Love is getting a lot of weight off us and she will improve plenty for her first run over hurdles but will have to step forward. I like my horse but it’s definitely not straight forward, as I also think Irish Panther and a couple of Gordon Elliott’s are decent as well. I hope he rights the wrongs from last year at Galway.
Daddy Long Legs – 5.05 Galway Hurdle
He carries the second top weight but the manner in which he won at Punchestown was very impressive and he got a big hike in the weights for that. He didn’t turn up at all at Tipperary the last day but I’ll put a line through it. He seems fine since and his work has been very good. To me, he is the one of ours that could potentially be a graded horse still in a handicap. It’s a race that top weights have a very good record in. He should stay up the hill no problem and he has a very live chance. One I would give an each-way nod to is Risk Belle who is just 10’7 with Mark Walsh on her back. She has a lot of experience in big handicaps with some decent runs in defeat.
