Paul Townend: Galopin Des Champs my best ride on day two at Punchestown

Imagine ran a nice race at Cheltenham and there are plenty in there with current form. It won’t be a huge shock if he puts in a big run but he has to redeem himself.

Gaelic Warrior – 5.20 Punchestown

Gaelic Warrior tries three miles for the first time. It will be interesting to see if he gets the trip. He obviously won a two-mile handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival. Going right-handed is going to be a huge advantage for him. He is the class horse in the race.

🚀 Impaire Et Passe – oh he looks the real deal alright & leads home a Willie Mullins 1-2-3 in the Ballymore

🏇 Four runs
🥇 Four wins
🏆 G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
🏆 G2 Moscow Flyer Novices' Hurdle
⭐️ Potential superstar#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/vq2zwHzexX

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 15, 2023

He ran well at Cheltenham when coming second to Impaire Et Passe. Affordale Fury ran a cracker at Cheltenham and is proven over the trip and will take plenty of beating. Embassy Gardens is the other Willie [Mullins] horse. I actually rode him in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and he ran a bit keen and has to leave a poor run behind him. I am very much looking forward to Gaelic Warrior and hopefully he handles this trip.

Galopin Des Champs – 5.55 Punchestown

Galopin Des Champs takes on Bravemansgame again in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup. I think this track will suit Bravemansgame better than Cheltenham. However, it will equally suit our lad and he is in great form since the race. It is going to be a big clash yet again but I just think we are rated a few pounds above him and for good reason.

𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙨 – 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙝𝙖𝙢 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝘾𝙪𝙥 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙤

🏇 13 runs
🥇 9 wins
🏆 Cheltenham Gold Cup
🏆 Irish Gold Cup
🏆 John Durkan Memorial

👑 Racing has a new Gold Cup king #CheltenhamFestival | @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/ejWhbtRmiq

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 17, 2023

We were well on top at Cheltenham and we are playing a home game this time. I wouldn’t swap my horse for anything. He is the horse I am most looking forward to riding and is my best ride of the day.

We can’t forget Envoi Allen who Henry [De Bromhead] dropped back to win the Ryanair. He adds a bit of spice to the race. Hewick was running a big race in the Gold Cup before he fell but it was a heavy fall and it’ll be interesting to see how he’s come out of that race.

Ha D’or – 7.05 Punchestown

It is a surprisingly small field for this race with only nine runners. Being a novice in an open handicap will help us. His form with Flame Bearer looks very good after Flame Bearer won the G2 at Fairyhouse. He was beaten only four lengths by El Fabiolo in a two-mile hurdle here last year. I have chosen him because he is open to more improvement.

El Fabiolo is exciting and strikes for a second win from three starts over hurdles under @PTownend.

13 winners at this year's Punchestown Festival now for Willie Mullins! @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/4Fk2gWqbBC

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 29, 2022

Royal Rendezvous won the race last year off of 160 and is down to 155 so he is off a winnable mark but was disappointing on his last couple of runs. Ha D’or is a nice racing weight and is open to improvement.

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