Talking Horses: Paul Townend eyes swift Punchestown redemption

Wednesday’s best bets, by Chris Cook

There was some loose talk around the racecourse on Tuesday that Paul Townend might not want to come back and ride there again this week, in light of what he did on Al Boum Photo. But that wouldn’t be very jockey-like and, on reflection, I think getting straight back on the horse is the healthiest and most likely thing for him to do. After all, his four booked rides for day two at Punchestown include two that are expected to start favourite.

Indeed, he’d have a pretty serious chance of instant redemption if he can win the Punchestown Gold Cup aboard Killultagh Vic and perhaps that’s the outcome we should all be cheering for, bearing in mind the tortures he will have suffered since. But punters and tipsters must be hard-nosed about such things and I’d rather be against Killultagh Vic after his disappointing show at Cheltenham, which may itself have been a consequence of his Leopardstown fall.

Road To Respect has an obvious chance but this does not feel like a race in which anyone should be taking 9-4. After Tuesday’s action, it doesn’t feel like anything could ever be 9-4 …

So I’ll take an interest in Bellshill (5.30) at 5-1, despite the memory of his heartbreaking defeat in the Irish National, when he couldn’t keep a straight line over the last. He was giving lumps of weight away to everything else that finished in the first seven and put up an awesome performance, for all that he came away with just fifth place.

He needs to be over that race in order to run well here, which can’t be taken for granted. But this is just his third run of the season and I’ll take a chance, encouraging myself with the memory of his two previous Grade One wins at this festival, in 2015 and 2016.

It’s great to have racing back at Epsom for another year and I’ve napped Contango (3.55) in the City And Suburban, for which 11-2 is available. He comes from the Andrew Balding yard that has won this race twice in the past three years and has a useful record on the card as a whole.

Contango won his first three starts last year and was then turned over on Shergar Cup day, which has happened to many a good horse. It might be said that he went for home a bit early that day, having been stepped up to a mile and a half. This step back in trip is probably the right thing to do and I expect more from him this year.

Native Fighter (3.20) looks pretty big at 16-1 for the Great Metropolitan, even allowing for being 3lb out of the handicap. An ex-German colt, he is going the right way for local trainer Simon Dow, winning his last two at Kempton in the style of a horse who would appreciate the stiffer test of a turf track.

I don’t quite get the market enthusiasm for Crossed Baton in the Blue Riband Trial, much as I love John Gosden. Surely Aidan O’Brien’s James Cook (2.45) is the better prospect and the more enticing option at 3-1. It was a respectable maiden that he won at Leopardstown in October and he is a brother to Found, after all. O’Brien has been getting among the winners and I think this one should be favourite.

Catterick 1.50 Coiste Bodhar 2.25 Viking Way 3.00 Talaaqy 3.30 Zig Zag 4.05 Wishing Well 4.35 The Golden Cue 5.10 Explain 5.40 Presidential

Epsom 2.10 Midnight Malibu 2.45 James Cook 3.20 Native Fighter
3.55 Contango (nap) 4.25 King Of The Sand 5.00 Christopher Wood (nb)

Lingfield 4.50 Great Shot Sam 5.20 Black Sails 5.55 Time Stands Still 6.25 Caspar The Cub 6.55 My Target 7.25 Emblazoned 7.55 Speculator

Perth 1.30 Lovely Schtuff 2.00 Catchthemoonlight 2.35 Scorpion Sid 3.10 Uhlan Bute 3.45 Late Date 4.15 Shanroe Street 4.45 Morning With Ivan

Taunton 5.15 Cockney Wren 5.45 Darcy Ward 6.15 Royal Act 6.45 Eric The Third 7.10 Hija 7.40 Bennachie 8.10 Southfield Torr