Festival favourite wins opening race at Naas

Paul Townend warmed up for next week’s Cheltenham festival by winning on his only ride at Naas today, steering Willie Mullins’ Redemption Day (8/13f) to land the opening Bar One Racing "Guaranteed Multiples All Shops" Maiden Hurdle.

Winner of Punchestown’s Grade 1 Champion Bumper last May, eight-year-old Redemption Day was on a retrieval mission following two lesser efforts over hurdles recently and overcame some poor jumping to nonetheless score by 1.75 lengths from 122-rated Come Walk With Me

Townend, the 2/5 favourite to be Cheltenham’s Leading Jockey, reported “Redemption Day settled nicely, which was good for him, and handled the trip no bother - once he had settled.

“From running in a competitive race previously he was inclined to let rip a bit early today but settled into it nicely then. He has the engine but things probably haven’t gone right for him for a couple of seasons. Hopefully he can now have a nice spring.

“It’s all about settling with him trip-wise: I think more competitive races would help him settle too. He can go competitively over 2m4f.”

Cheltenham's four-time Leading Jockey Townend's next ride comes on hotpot Kopek Des Bordes in Tuesday's opening Supreme Novices Hurdle.

Quotes from Gary Carson