Paul Townend: the inside track on my Sunday rides at Naas

Saturday’s racing at Fairyhouse is cancelled, so it’s just four rides at Naas for me this weekend, providing that meeting comes through the inspection. 

The first of my four rides is on Mon Creuset, a fine, big horse who was picked up after winning the 1m4f Maiden at Nantes on soft ground. We have three in the race and in these circumstances it’s hard to be certain I’m on the best of them, but it’s the kind of race where we’ll know more afterwards. He’s shown us nice things at home, though. Lynches Knock is in here despite shedding the maiden tag last month at Leopardstown as a three-year-old, when taking advantage of the new academy hurdle series. I like my horse a lot, though – he’s doing everything right at home. 

The Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle (13:25) looks a great race. I’m on Karbau, who makes his seasonal reappearance after a while off the track. He’s a bonny horse, though coming off a break isn’t ideal. Obviously, some of ours have taken a run to hit full form, although they’ve been better of late. He was a good, tough, consistent performer last year. His best run was probably at Aintree when third in the Top Novices Grade 1. We line up against Farren Glory, who won well at Naas just over a year ago in a beginners’ chase, but also has good hurdles form. Glen Kiln is fit and race-ready coming back in trip, they’ll be able to make use of that. Another contender, Workahead, also has the long break to overcome. With the lack of a recent run for most contenders, it looks a race to watch for clues. A lot of these will have fancier targets later on in the season, I would think. 

I ride Did I Ask You That  in the Maiden Hurdle (13:55). He’s been disappointing, I suppose, when you look at the fact he’s an eight-year-old maiden hurdler, but that doesn’t tell the full story as his owners have been very patient with him. He weakened tamely at Tramore the last day, so he’s going to have to put his best foot forward here. If you go back far enough there’s a nice run behind The Big Westerner at Punchestown. He shows us plenty at home, too. Arcadian Emperor goes over obstacles for the first time and looks the one we have to beat.

Argento Boy wraps up my four rides at Naas in the Novice Chase (15:25). He was there to pick up the pieces on New Year’s Eve under Danny Mullins after I’d departed on Ballygunner Castle at Punchestown. He’ll handle the ground and the trip, and he’s a consistent horse despite tipping up on his seasonal reappearance. The key point is he’s a stayer, and you’re going to have to stay well in this race in these conditions. There are some really good yardsticks in this race, too, with Lonesome Boatman, The Enabler and Blaze The Way. I really like the fact that mine was there at Punchestown to win that day and I’m looking forward to riding him.