Paul Townend gears up for the Cheltenham Festival with Saint Sam heading Navan quartet

By Kieran McHugh

All the talk is on the Cheltenham Festival as excitement builds for National Hunt racing’s showpiece event – and Paul Townend is looking to warm up for the festival with four rides at Navan on Saturday, February 28.

Betway ambassador Townend takes four rides at Navan, including two in Graded company, and he will be hoping to kickstart his Cheltenham preparations with a bang.

Townend and Willie Mullins have been in good form of late and the Closutton maestro will be hoping that continues, as he looks to close the gap in the Trainers’ Championship to Gordon Elliott.

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Saint Sam the first?

Townend’s most notable mount is Saint Sam in the Grade Two Webster Cup Chase, a race which the seven-time Irish champion jump jockey is yet to win.

He will be hoping that Saint Sam can put a disappointing run at Huntingdon behind him and land Townend his first victory in the race. 

“He didn’t raise a gallop at Huntingdon for whatever reason, but he’s had a bit of time off since, and he seems in much better form at home now,” said Townend.

“Coming here a fresh horse compared to say Found A Fifty, who’s been kept busy, might just help us, and he only narrowly beat us at Fairyhouse back in April, so I’d say coming here the fresher horse would give us a decent chance of reversing the form.

“Saint Sam will be fine on the ground, so as long as he leaves that Huntingdon run well behind him, I think he goes there with a solid chance.”

Port Joulain to sail towards Flyingbolt hat-trick?

As opposed to the Webster Cup, the Flyingbolt Novice Chase is a race in which Townend has tasted success. 

Himself and Mullins have won the last two renewals of the race, with Blood Destiny and Champ Kiely and they will be hoping to land their third with Port Joulain.

Townend is confident of doing so, saying: “He finally put it all together last time, I thought, and I’m looking forward to riding him.

“He was taking a huge step back in trip last time, and he jumped brilliantly, and actually really surprised me with the turn of foot he showed to beat Karoline Banbou that day.”

Winning start on Moulin Labbe?

Townend starts the day off with the ride on Moulin Labbe in the first race and he believes that his mount can come on for his debut to take victory today.

“I thought he ran ok in a maiden hurdle at Naas last time on his first start for us,” said Townend. 

“He made a mistake at the three out, then made up a lot of ground quickly before weakening from two out, so I’d say he’s entitled to come on plenty for that run. 

“I know he was beaten a fair distance in the end, but I think he’s better than that, and with that experience under his belt, I’d be hopeful he’ll go well in what doesn’t look the strongest of races.”

Sweet on Hens Tooth?

Hens Tooth has been a bit of an enigma for connections, but Townend still has not lost hope in his mount.

“I’m not really sure what to expect from him, to be totally honest,” said Townend. 

“He won a bumper for us at Limerick on heavy ground back in 2023, but he never kicked on from that, and he’s been very disappointing since then.

“He improved a little here last time when tackling this trip for the first time, so hopefully he can find some further improvement this weekend, but he will have to take a big step forward, I think.”

Constitution Hill’s switch ‘the right decision’

Townend also gave his thoughts on Constitution Hill’s switch to the flat, crediting connections making the decision, saying: “I’m glad I wasn’t involved in the decision about what to do next with him.

“Ultimately, they’ve done what they think is right for the horse, which is great, and hopefully he can go on now and achieve some really big things on the flat, so best of luck to everybody involved with him.”

You can read more about Paul Townend’s thoughts on his four rides at Navan and more of his thoughts on Constitution Hill’s switch in his Betway insider blog.

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