Paul Townend

A Saturday off and a fine book of rides for Sunday sets up an interesting weekend for jockey Paul Townend.

It’s Hennessy Gold Cup weekend and I must say for what is usually one of the most hotly contested races of the year, this year it looks a little weaker than usual. Quel Esprit looks a good favourite as his expected rivals continue to fall by the wayside.

In the last 72 hours Jessies Dream (not sparkling), Quito De La Roque (scoped badly) and Lexus Winner Synchronised (a bit flat) have all been ruled out of the €160,000 Leopardstown showpiece on Sunday.  I’m on Treacle for Tom Taaffe in the race. It’s a horse I like and we won the Munster National together a few years back. We’d be hopeful he can run into the prize money.

Of the other horses going, China Rock and Bostons Angel will probably give Quel Esprit the most problems if running back to anything like their best. But Willie has a great record in this race (winning it seven times already) so it is hard to see past Quel.

Besides the Gold Cup, there is also some other great races with excellent prize money up for grabs. I have some nice rides and I am especially excited about riding Call The Police in the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Steeplechase.

I don’t think it is much difference between himself and Lambro (Willie's other horse in the race). I think he should run a big race for me. He will love the small field. I thought he jumped very well around Gowran the last time out. Bog Warrior will obviously be another big danger in this race.

I have a number of other rides on Sunday, two for Willie and one for Charles O'Brien. All have good chances of running into each-way money. On the whole, it’s looking like a good weekend’s racing all round.

Naas today should also be a competitive day for all involved. I was down to ride Willie’s horses but when Newbury was cancelled late in the week Ruby will now come back and ride for Willie. As it was so late in the week all the other good rides were taken so I have a Saturday without a ride for the first time in a while.  What will I do with my Saturday off? I will ride out for Willie in the morning, maybe do a little bit of shopping and sit back for the afternoon and watch the racing. What else would I do?

Looking back at last week’s racing, I thought Sizing Europe was very impressive in beating Big Zeb. Although you’d find it hard to write Big Zeb off for the Cheltenham Festival, if Sizing continues like that he’ll be very hard to beat. I had a nice winner myself last Saturday at Fairyhouse for Andrew Oliver on Abou Ben.

Also, this week we lost a great patron in Mr Josh Gifford. He was a great jockey and then trainer in his time. He did many great things in his career but will probably be mostly remembered as the man who saddled Aldaniti to the 1981 Aintree Grand National. This triumph was later celebrated by the film Champions. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this tough time.