Paul Townend takes four rides on day three of the Cheltenham Festival, with two of those coming in the Stayers Hurdle on Ballyburn and the Ryanair Chase aboard Impaire Et Passe, on Thursday, March 12.
Betway ambassador Townend will be hoping for luck to go his way on St Patrick’s Thursday, as he looks to secure another major Festival win.
He teams up again with Closutton maestro Willie Mullins and they will look to have another good day at Prestbury Park.
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Comeback king Impaire Et Passe to land second Festival success?
Impaire Et Passe is already a Cheltenham Festival winner, tasting victory in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in 2023.
He defeated Gaelic Warrior by six lengths that day and Gaelic Warrior will be partnered by Townend in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 13.
He made a winning return to action, after nearly a year off the track, at Gowran Park and takes his place in the Ryanair.
Townend believes should the favourite (Fact To File) underperform, then his mount will capitalise.
“He was so good here over hurdles a few years ago, so he’s proven he can handle the occasion, so he shouldn’t be phased by the hustle and bustle of the festival,” said Townend.
“He was brilliant the last day at Gowran Park, and he got me out of trouble a fair bit that day, so that’s another reason I’m a big fan of his.
“Fact To File looks a bit of a monster, so we’ll probably need him to underperform to give us a winning chance, but if you were to take him out of the race, then I’d say we’d have as good a chance of anybody.”
Ballyburn the forgotten horse in the Stayers’ Hurdle?
Ballyburn was one of the Festival ‘bankers’ in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, but a terrible round of jumping put paid to that.
He has since reverted back to hurdles and nearly shocked race-favourite Teahupoo, at the beginning of the year.
Teahupoo floored him in December, though, over an extended distance, but Townend believes that his mount can leave that performance behind.
“He’ll have the hood on him for the first time, so I do think that will be a help to him,” said Townend.
“Although he did underperform at Leopardstown over Christmas, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he left that run behind him.
“He’ll have to do everything right if he’s going to win, but we know the ability is there with him; it’s just a case of channelling it in the right way.
“I suppose my other concern would just be whether he’ll stay three miles strongly enough to power up that hill, but I haven’t lost faith in the horse yet, so I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”
Can Jade De Grugy deputise for Lossiemouth?
Lossiemouth’s participation and subsequent win in the Champion Hurdle means that Mullins and Townend are without her for the Mare’s Hurdle.
Jade De Grugy is a two-time Grade One winner over hurdles and reverts to that code after spending some time chasing.
She was no match for Lossiemouth in this race last year and bumped into subsequent Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace in the Novices’ event the year before.
That form reads quite well and Townend thinks his mount could usurp the hot favourite Woodoh.
“It’s a smaller field than has been the case in recent years, but it’s a decent race, and although Wodhooh is a short price, she might not have it all her own way,” said Townend.
“I have enormous respect for Wodhooh as she just seems to always get the job done but I’d be disappointed if Jade De Grugy isn’t in the shakeup at the very least.”
Bambino to spread disco fever?
Perhaps Townend’s best chance of the day comes in the form of last year’s Champion Bumper winner, Bambino Fever.
Townend believes she can deliver for connections, saying: “She was so good here last year when winning the Champion Bumper, so hopefully she can make it 2-2 at Cheltenham here.
“She bumped into a good mare at Naas in December in the shape of Oldschool Outlaw, and she reopposes again, so I’d have enormous respect for her.
“But Bambino took a big step forward from that when winning impressively at Fairyhouse the following month, so I’d be very hopeful we can turn the tables with Gordon’s mare.”
You can read more about Paul Townend’s thoughts on his four rides at Cheltenham on St Patrick’s Day in his Betway insider blog.
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