Paul Townend looks back on Cheltenham and previews his rides at Limerick

I’m back home now from Cheltenham where I was grateful to have three winners, loads of placed horses, even if we couldn’t manage to land a third Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup with Al Boum Photo. That said Willie was still the leading trainer.

Hopefully the horses have all come out of it okay and we can look forward to the other festivals. Cheltenham was only the start really as we have Fairyhouse, Aintree and Punchestown to come.

Until then things will be reasonably quiet and I have two rides at Limerick on Sunday for Willie [Mullins].

Mr Coldstone (14:35) was a good winner in Tramore. Next time he lacked experience and was a little out of his depth probably behind Appreciate It in Leopardstown. He’ll have a better chance here.

Giving all the weight to the four-year-olds won’t be easy and they nearly have the same amount of experience. He will be better back in this grade and we hope for an improved effort.

I think Yukon Lil (15:10) has a great chance back over hurdles. Her run over fences in Naas behind Elimay and Shattered Love looks good now.

She has good form with Scarlet And Dove, albeit over fences earlier on, but I don’t think chases and hurdles make a huge difference to her. This looks like a good opportunity.

Jordan Gainford is taking 7lb off Colin Bowe’s runner, Mt Leinster Gold, which will bring that into the reckoning, and Denise Foster’s horse Felicidad has to return to his best form.

I wouldn’t swap Yukon Lil for anything.

Paul