Townend looking forward to Monkfish ride on Sunday Monkfish is one of a whole host of stars from the Willie Mullins stable bidding to land some of the big prizes on offer at this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. Monkfish will run in Sunday’s two mile five furlong Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase and even though he won over three miles at Leopardstown at Christmas, his rider Paul Townend is of the opinion he should be capable of the step back in trip. "If he's going to be as good as we hope he is, he should be able to cope with dropping back that little bit in trip and stepping up - the good ones usually do," said Townend. "I'd imagine so (have sharpened up for a run, even dropping in trip). He had plenty of runs as a novice hurdler but it just took a while for the penny to drop with him. "It's never any harm to sharpen them up like that I'd suppose and hopefully he can overcome it (going back in distance). "I think he defied himself last year as he was so raw and babyish and immature. He'd kick a hurdle out of the ground as quick as jump over it. "Fences really brought about a bit of improvement and he's strengthened up, grown up and matured."
