Jockey in focus: Paul Townend is the man to follow at Tipperary on Thursday

Tipperary provides a thoroughly competitive National Hunt card on Thursday and the highlight is the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle. There are some interesting races on the supporting card too and top jockey Paul Townend could be the one to follow. Willie Mullins’ stable jockey only has two rides but it’s easy to make the case that both will win. Here we assess his chances of completing a juicy double, with one of his rides coming in the main event. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

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6.10 Tipperary

Gaucher was a useful novice hurdler last season and he bolted up in a Punchestown maiden hurdle in June 2024. The son of Frankel is a course and distance winner, having scored in a Grade 3 novice hurdle here in October. This is a competitive race and there isn’t much between the first three in the market.

It’s also worth noting that he claimed a second Grade 3 success in much more comfortable fashion at Naas in March and that form suggests he’s unlikely to be far away.

Only Punchestown Festival winner and stablemate Irancy was too good for him at Fairyhouse in April and you can see why Townend has picked the five-year-old.

18:10

Tipperary

Gaucher

Analysis

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6.45 Tipperary

Gorvitho was runner-up on the Flat on his sole start in France and Willie Mullins has an excellent record when picking up horses with similar profiles. He was third over course and distance on debut for this yard and the form has worked out rather well.

That would have been a good learning experience for him and the best is surely still to come. Mullins is operating at a 50 per cent strike-rate in the last fortnight and that certainly bodes well.

18:45

Tipperary

Gorvitho

Analysis

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