Paul Townend talks us through Saturday at Cork and Sunday at Fairyhouse

I will be at Cork and Fairyhouse this weekend. I start at Cork on Saturday with Gjoumi (13.03) who was running a big race until she tipped up at the last and took a heavy fall at Thurles the last day.

It doesn’t seem to have left any lasting impact on her. I was pleased with how she was running that day and a repeat of that should put her in the money.

Bon Retour (14.13) has disappointed us a bit of late. She has some poorish runs to leave behind her. She will have to put her best foot forward here. The ability is there.

Sunday

Runrized (12.40) hasn’t been seen in a year. He had a good run in Naas, then was beaten in Cheltenham and Leopardstown.

It’s nice to get him back on the track after a year off. It looks a stiff enough task for him coming off that layoff.

I was very taken by the maiden win of Hook Up (13.10) in Fairyhouse. Obviously she has a much stiffer task here with Delvino, Queens Brook and Peter Fahey’s filly Royal Kahala.

But she impressed me a lot in Fairyhouse where she killed off a good field and settled it well. She had a good run behind Burning Victory on her first run last year. We think she has a good future and I look forward to getting back on her.

I hope Salsaretta (14.50) can get a bit further than the first fence this time. It was an uncharacteristic fall from her.

Giving weight away to everyone isn’t ideal. Cabaret Queen looks well in on official ratings. But we think a lot of Salsaretta. We hope she has a good future ahead of her.

Shattered Love looked back to herself in Clonmel but has disappointed since so you don’t really know what you are going to get from her. We are happy enough with Salsaretta at home and hopefully she can leave her first run behind her.