Road to Cheltenham: Paul Townend joins Lydia & Ruby, live from Punchestown (2024/25 Ep 9)

[@edenjs1503]

Paul Townsend's explanations were excellent, knowledgeable and clear. Superb guest and hope he returns as a guest pre-Cheltenham.

[@markchapman2933]

Was he clear? I thought he left a lot open which to be fair he can't be clear because he is not the trainer.

[@istanbul0562]

Townend

[@janetmarshall7171]

2 OF THE BEST REPORTERS RACING TV HAS: LYDIA AND RUBY!!

[@thomasbalfe1492]

RIP Derek ❤ condolences to the Casey family

[@TheChrishoughton]

Ruby, greatest jockey of all time and also the greatest insights. Not tips, but insights into how horses will run in the future.

[@anthonyfieldhouse9691]

I think Lossie will go to the mares

[@Ironsmiler]

Sincerely hope not.

[@Martin.Lewis..]

Absolutely zero chance of that. None.

[@TimComley]

@@Ironsmilerand me

[@garrymelia462]

Kargese is willies mates horse Lossie goes champion. Unless brighterdays destroys here at drf.

[@markchapman2933]

Depends on State Man. Although Willie still has the promising Anzadam, the youngster has a stone and more to find in order to be anything like Champion Hurdle class. Willie is used to having a good one racing in the top European hurdle race. State Man needs to recapture something like his best at Leopardstown and that seems unlikely... Therefore Lossiemouth is likely to go the Champion route.

[@AllanArmstrong-p9r]

Have a nice day😊😅

[@thomdidikai3323]

Townend is as good a jockey as there has ever been.

[@garymckeon5410]

kauto 152 rpr in 2004

[@stevens9996]

On the subject of novice chasers. The Jukebox Man is a faster horse than Handstands. So why is Handstands the one who is being shunted off to Aintree? If they can only have one runner at Cheltenham (why?) then surely it should be the other way around? The idea that Handstands doesn't like undulations seems to be a very flimsy excuse based on next to no evidence. The Jukebox Man could easily struggle to get home again. The race that has gone might have suited him better.

[@AllanArmstrong-p9r]

Sir gino will win the arkle

[@AllanArmstrong-p9r]

Sir gino will win the parole

[@TimComley]

Can he win both

[@AllanArmstrong-p9r]

Only kiding

[@stevens9996]

I would have liked to have heard Paul explain the difference between his two rides on Banbridge this season. Anyone on the first time got no run whatsoever. Fact To File should go Ryanair, but won't. The decision not to enter Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup makes no sense at all. Assuming Fact To File doesn't stay then the places are all up for the grabs. Inothewayurthinkin improved from first run, and no surprise if he improves again, perhaps significantly. I would have him over Corbetts Cross any day of the week. Why did it take the Kempton thumping for Mullins to finally realise that Ballyburn wasn't a two-miler? It should have been obvious from the start of last season. Incredibly, he started the horse over two miles. Had he not run over two miles he would have an unblemished record. The trainer is the sole reason he doesn't. He was even talking about the horse as a Champion Hurdler. How can you get it so wrong? The Cheltenham fences could very easily be a massive problem for Il Est Francais, whatever the distance.

[@markchapman2933]

Banbridge was being pushed along from some way out on reappearance. Townend did nothing wrong. The horse obviously needed his first start for 200 days. Whereas in the King George he'd already had two runs and - imo just as importantly - the stable were in magnificent form.