Paul Townend can’t wait to get back on Energumene at Punchestown festival

When Willie Mullins goes to Punchestown everything has a chance. I start the festival by riding Night And Day. She missed Cheltenham and then ran too freely at Fairyhouse with Daryl Jacob, but she gained more jumping experience and I think the drop back in trip will suit her here.

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🏆 Champion Novice Chase@Ladbrokes ambassador @PTownend and Gold Cup winner @92Bryan92 gave us the racing line ahead of day one at Punchestown Festival. pic.twitter.com/0BOhJjCLLN

— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) April 25, 2023

We will probably ride her a little bit differently. I am hoping and expecting a better run on Tuesday and if she can do what she shows us at home she will put up a nice performance.

Patrick [Mullins] rides Nikini, and Willie also has Saylavee running but both were disappointing on their last runs so I have gone with Night and Day.

Facile Vega – 4.15 Punchestown

We were disappointed he got beat at Cheltenham, but Marine Nationale was very good on the day. Hopefully this is a nice opportunity for him to get back to winning ways. He beat a few of these at Cheltenham and all is going positively at home.

Gordon Elliott’s horse, Found A Fifty, was disappointing at Aintree as was Oliver McKiernan’s No Looking Back. This comes very soon after and they have to leave disappointing runs behind them.

Energumene – 5.25 Punchestown

Energumene put his Clarence House run behind him at Cheltenham and was so impressive. Like last year, he is bidding to follow up that win with another one here. I can’t wait to get back on him and hopefully he is going there in as good as form as he went to Cheltenham.

BACK TO BACK! 😮

The real ENERGUMENE is back and he means BUSINESS to secure his second @Betway Champion Chase #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/EXBidth3gs

— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 15, 2023

Gentlemen De Mee comes here as a fresh horse and was so good at the Dublin Racing Festival. He comes off the back of a little setback that ruled him out of Cheltenham and he should inject a bit of pace in the race.

Blue Lord has been very disappointing since winning at Christmas.

Appreciate It – 6.35 Punchestown

Appreciate It takes on Sir Gerhard again like he did at Fairyhouse. It will be interesting to see if Fairyhouse has left a mark on them. Sir Gerhard beat Appreciate It that day but I think there is very little between them. Sir Gerhard has disappointed at Punchestown the last couple of years. Appreciate It wears a tongue tie and I think it will be a help. It was very hard to choose between them and I just hope I have gone with the right one.

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