Paul Townend Punchestown blog: Day two preview

He has a good solid chance. He is a consistent sort who won in Leopardstown the last day with Danny [Mullins]. He beat Purse Price who he takes on here again.

I think he has a very solid chance. He turns up every day. The better ground here will suit him more than what it has been like throughout the winter. He is a solid horse who will suit the trip and ground, and I am looking forward to riding him.

Blizzard Of Oz odds

Mistergiff has been keeping top company. After winning a maiden at Limerick, he ran in the Supreme behind Slade Steel, and then went to Aintree and finished behind Mystical Power. This is a big drop in class for him and I think he will take a lot of beating.

The step up in trip won’t do him any harm and he will find this a much easier task. I have no negatives on him. Nicky Henderson brings over East India Express which you must take note of. Nicky likes winners at Punchestown so I am sure he will give us something to think about.

Mistergiff odds: 15/8

He ran a cracker at Cheltenham when coming third behind Stellar Story who he takes on here again. He went a couple of places better then at Aintree when he won the Grade 1 well. He had a tough race and it’s only been shy of three weeks ago but I think he will bounce out of it as he is a hardy horse.

High Class Hero is a horse I loved all season and I was very disappointed to see him being pulled up at Cheltenham. I think Punchestown will suit him a lot better and I would be willing to forgive that run as it was too bad to be true and I can see him running a huge race.

I just found it too hard to leave Dancing City behind. He has been at top table a while now, showing up every day. Stellar Story is the Cheltenham winner and warrants an awful of respect.

Dancing City odds: 2/1

It is a cracking renewal of the race again with Conflated, Fastorslow, Corach Rambler, Hewick, Gentlemansgame, and Journey With Me. Fastorslow is the most unlucky one from Cheltenham unseating JJ Slevin.

He is an old rival of ours. On official ratings were are 10lbs higher than him and I don’t think that is a fair reflection on the level of ability of both horses. He warrants all the respect coming into this. Galopin has come out of Cheltenham nicely and I can’t wait to get back up on him.

He is obviously a dual Gold Cup winner and sets the standard, but Fastorslow has beaten us the twice we met him here so it won’t be an easy task but I would love him to end a wonderful season on a high by winning the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.

Galopin Des Champs odds: 8/11

He was just touched off late on in the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences by a horse we were giving an awful lot of weight to. He has run some very creditable races throughout the season without having a no.1 next to his name.

It would be brilliant to finish the season with a win. He turns up every day and just finds winning very hard. He carries top weight and he’s not doing himself any favours by running so well in all these handicaps. He has never given himself the chance to get dropped a couple of pounds.

He is giving a lot of weight to some decent horses down through the field but he has a bit of class and hopefully we will be able to land a blow here.

James Du Berlais odds: 3/1

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication

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