Paul Townend previews his weekend rides at Fairyhouse and Naas

I have two rides at Fairyhouse on Saturday, starting with the newcomer Tax For Max (13.10).

His Flat form looks good, reads good and his schooling has been good, so I hope he can bring that to the track as he looks an exciting recruit to hurdling.

It’s not going to be easy thrown in a Grade 3 first time out and Teahupoo looks very good, so we will see where we are going. If he can land a pot like this it would be brilliant but it’s going to be a big ask first time out.

The same applies to Farout but I just hope I am on the right one this year. I was on the wrong one last year when Burning Victory won this and I was on Hook Up, who was third.

Burrows Saint (14.52) has to leave a few disappointing runs over hurdles behind him. Hopefully the return to fences will bring about a bit of improvement, and he has had the benefit of a couple of runs.

On ratings he looks well treated. Acapella Bourgeois ran well in the Thyestes and won this last year so the trip and ground will suit him, but I am relying on an improved run from Burrows Saint. Tout Est Permis is well treated but you have to go back a bit for his best form.

This is a race Willie likes to use as a Grand National warm-up as it comes after the weights have been published.

Sunday

I head to Naas to ride Cilaos Emery (14.00) who we haven’t seen since he got beat by Bachasson at Clonmel. This drop back to 2m should suit him better.

I suppose he is a horse that hasn’t quite fulfilled his true potential. He has a mark of 163 but I’m not sure he has lived up to that. This looks a nice opportunity for him.

Daly Tiger brings strong form but we are hoping to see Cilaos Emery back to himself here.

Echoes In Rain (15.00) is a free-going sort. She ran very creditably in Punchestown the last day after running so free behind Dreal Deal.

Streets Of Doyen is the one to beat but we are getting the allowances. She has the experience of two runs now and if she can settle a little bit better, I think she has a lively chance. She is one I like a lot.

Egality Mans (16.00) has had just the two runs for us. We fancied him going to Limerick last year when he got beat by Assemble in a maiden hurdle. That turned out to be not bad form.

Obviously being off the track for so long isn’t ideal but his work has been good at home and Gordon Elliott’s horse is coming off a layoff as well.

He seems to be working well at home and hopefully he can get off the mark over hurdles this time round.

Micro Manage (16.30) was a high-class Flat horse. He was very free in Leopardstown and will have to settle a bit better. He was only beaten six lengths in a maiden that is always good, strong form.

Envious Editor has been turned over a few times and Great Bear has a nice mark. We thought an awful lot of Micro Manage and we are hoping that if he does things right he can get off the mark in a first time hood, which should help.

Paul