Paul Townend’s Exciting Weekend: My Take on His Ascot and Thurles Rides
I’ve been following Paul Townend’s career closely for years now, and let me tell you – this weekend looks particularly promising for the Irish maestro. With quality rides lined up at both Ascot and Thurles, I’m genuinely excited about what’s in store. After watching his recent form and analysing his weekend mounts, I can confidently say these two horses deserve serious attention from punters like you.
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Why Paul Townend’s Jockey Skills Shine This Weekend
As a Paul Townend jockey fan, I can tell you his tactical awareness is second to none. What sets him apart isn’t just his riding ability – it’s his partnership with Willie Mullins and his knack for getting horses to peak at exactly the right moment. This weekend perfectly showcases why he’s become one of the most sought-after riders in National Hunt racing.
I’ve watched Paul Townend develop from a promising young rider into the finished article, and his recent victory at Cork on January 3rd with The Reverend was a masterclass in race-riding. Winning by 4¾ lengths as the 4/11 favourite might not sound spectacular on paper, but the way he positioned the horse in second before making his winning move showed the tactical brilliance that makes him so effective.
Analysing Paul Townend’s Booked Rides for Maximum Value
Looking at Paul Townend’s booked rides this weekend, two horses really stand out to me. First up is Il Etait Temps in the BETMGM Clarence House Chase at Ascot – a Grade One that could be a stepping stone to Cheltenham glory. This horse comes into the race off an impressive victory in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, and I’ve got a feeling P Townend will have him spot on for this assignment.
The Clarence House Chase represents exactly the kind of big-race opportunity where Townend thrives. I’ve seen him ride in these pressure situations before, and he has this ability to keep horses relaxed while positioning them perfectly for their challenge. Il Etait Temps enters as a strong favourite, and with Townend’s big-race experience, I can see why the bookmakers are taking no chances.
“I’m really looking forward to riding Il Etait Temps at Ascot on Saturday in the Clarence House (15:30). His CV is pretty impressive, if there weren’t the gaps where he was forgotten about a little bit. The lines of form are all tied into the likes of Gaelic Warrior and Jonbon, and going back to his hurdle form you could say he really hasn’t got the credit he deserves.
His season so far began at Clonmel, which was a bit of a penalty kick I suppose, but was a first run to get him back on track. He was expected to win the Tingle Creek at Sandown and we fancied him to win, but the manner in which he won was still a bit of a surprise. He beat the best of what’s around that day and if he can reproduce that I’ll have a good spin around Ascot.
This lad has taken a bit of time to put it all together and become a little bit more manageable. Willie [Mullins] didn’t rush him, and he got plenty of experience in hurdle races, even as a juvenile. He’s been brought along really well and handled impressively. He’s also been a thorn in my side plenty of times, and at least now I’m sitting on his back and not watching him go away. He’s a clever horse and I feel he learns every step of the way.”
Paul Townend Rides That Caught My Eye
Paul Townend rides with such confidence that you can spot a winner from the paddock, and his mount at Thurles on Appreciate It is another that’s got me interested. This horse is the defending champion of the featured chase, which tells you everything about his ability at the track. What I love about this booking is that it shows the faith Willie Mullins has in both horse and jockey – you don’t put your stable jockey on a defending champion unless you expect them to defend successfully.
The yielding ground conditions at Thurles could play right into their hands too. I’ve noticed over the years that Townend adapts his riding style brilliantly to different ground conditions, and yielding ground often brings out the best in Mullins-trained horses. The combination of track conditions, defending champion status, and Townend’s tactical nous makes this a really appealing proposition.
My Personal Take on This Weekend’s Action
What excites me most about these rides is the variety they offer. At Ascot, we’ve got the prestige of a Grade One chase with Il Etait Temps, while at Thurles, there’s the satisfaction of watching a defending champion try to repeat last year’s success. Both races showcase different aspects of Townend’s skill set – the big-race temperament needed at Ascot and the tactical awareness required to defend a title successfully.
I’ve been impressed by how Townend has started 2026. That Cork victory with The Reverend wasn’t just about the winning margin – it was about the way he rode the race. Positioning in second, waiting for the right moment, then delivering when it mattered. That’s the hallmark of a jockey at the top of his game.
The fact that both horses enter their respective races as favourites tells you that the market respects what Townend brings to these partnerships. I’ve learned over the years that when the betting public backs a Townend ride this strongly, there’s usually substance behind the confidence.
Three rides at Thurles on Sunday
I kick off Sunday in the Novice Hurdle (13:10) on Espresso Milan, who was a pleasant surprise for us when he won in Punchestown. He’s a horse that came from Fergal O’Brien’s stable with little bits of form, but we weren’t sure what we had. I thought he ran with a lot of credit on debut for us over a trip that might have been plenty short.
I think the step up in trip will bring about plenty of improvement for him, in a race where if we are honest it won’t be the strongest run all year. I’m looking forward to getting another go on him on ground at Thurles that will be nice, and that will suit him. He’ll handle that fine and the step up in trip will help. Gordon Elliott’s horses look the main dangers, and I suppose on jockey bookings Sept Etoiles might be the rival we have to look at most. I just hope mine shows me the same improvement I thought he had from the scope he showed on that first run this season.
Jade De Grugy is very interesting in the Mares Novice Chase (14:15), and you’d say if this was a hurdles race she’d be even shorter than she will be here. She’s a good jumper of a fence though and has maybe just run into decent opposition. She was just outstayed by The Big Westerner on heavy ground at Limerick over Christmas, but we know how good The Big Westerner is – her stable certainly like her. I’d be very disappointed if my horse gets beat here and she’d be the strongest of my three rides on Sunday.
I’ve gone for Appreciate It in the Grade 2 Chase (15:20), despite him giving away weight everywhere. His form of his last run in Thurles behind Affordable Fury looks pretty good now, considering we were giving him 10lb and what that one did over Christmas. Appreciate It is 12 now, but he’s so consistent. He’s been a very good horse for us. He won this race last year – when I didn’t ride him – so hopefully I can repeat that. Maybe my heart has ruled my head a little bit, but it’s a strong ride and a lot of conditions are in his favour. In opposition, James Du Berlais is no back marker and Gentlemen De Mee maybe had a hard race at Tramore on New Year’s Day and might be a better spring horse.
Bambino Fever shows Cheltenham credentials
It’s brilliant that Fairyhouse managed to reschedule in midweek and it meant that I got the chance to partner Bambino Fever as she made up for a narrow defeat on her hurdles debut. She was beaten by Oldschool Outlaw that day in Naas, but they had pulled well clear and she made amends on Wednesday. She improved from the run like we thought, made the running herself, quickened up smartly and jumped brilliantly. She came out of it well and showed she’s got what it takes to head into the big races coming up this season.
Why These Rides Look Good to Me
Take a look at this weekend’s action, and I am confident you will see what I mean about Townend’s quality. Don’t just take my word for it, though; check out what these horse tipsters are tipping today. Both Il Etait Temps and Appreciate It represent the kind of horses that suit his riding style perfectly – talented animals that need a thinking jockey to get the best out of them.
Want to hear more about my weekend racing thoughts? I enjoy talking to my readers, and I am always looking for ways to improve my analysis. Drop me a line if you’ve got your own views on these races – I’d love to hear what fellow racing fans think about Townend’s chances this weekend.