Paul Townend: My three rides at Naas on Friday

I have three rides on a decent Friday card in Naas, starting with Future Prospect (6/4)  in the Maiden Hurdle (12:43).

We lack a recent run, although I suppose when you dissect her form we’ve been behind a couple of decent mares in the past. She’s also got some point-to-point form to call upon. Not running since April, you’ll have to be cautious of that, with a lot of ours tending to need a run this season.

She wears a hood so she’s keen going, she could be doing plenty at home and might be more forward than we think. She has been working nicely, though. The horses that have the point-to-point form have the jumping side to call upon already, which can be an advantage.

I had a tough choice to make in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle (13:43). I could have ridden either Saint Baco or Sortudo in this Grade 1, and I could end up with egg on my chin after the race, but I went for Saint Baco (11/5). I’ve liked him from early on and I felt he was the one with the most potential.

I like everything he’s been doing at home. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to ride either of them in their maiden hurdles so I’ve only been riding them or watching them in their work at home. Sortudo probably has the form in the book, but Saint Baco’s maiden hurdle win has worked out well, with Lazare de Star winning in Leopardstown over Christmas. My one also has experience of hurdling in France to call upon.

We’ll know the answers after the race and it could become very obvious that he was the one to ride. I thought his maiden form was a little stronger. Danny Mullins rode both of them in their maidens and said he couldn’t really split them, so I know I’m definitely not on a bad horse.

Naas is a stiff track, so he’ll need to stay there. He’s a good horse and he’ll handle a bit of kinder ground. In situations like this, I never know for sure but I hope I’ve made the right decision. Back in the day when Ruby Walsh had first pick I knew the pressure was on him to make the right pick, now it’s me!

I ride Karamoja (10/11) in the Beginners Chase (15:13). She has the benefit of a run this year, in Fairyhouse over two-miles. She jumped well that day but just seemed to get tired late on.

She steps up to two-and-a-half here, which probably isn’t ideal with the way she races, but she got that over hurdles last year. With that season debut under her belt, if she improves as much as I think she will then she’ll take a bit of beating here.