“Go on you boy you.”
Paul Townend endured a frustrating opening day at the Punchestown festival.
The Cork jockey had one of those moments at the the second last flight of the Growise Champion Novice Chase on the Kildare track.
After pre-race favourite Monalee blundered and hit the deck along with Invitation Only, the 28-year-old’s mount, Al Boum Photo was left in pole position as he made his way to the final obstacle.
That was when the 2010/2011 Champion jockey made a mistake. With an inexplicable glance over his shoulder, his day was turned upside down as his horse veered right of the fence, taking him and rival Finian’s Oscar out of the race.
Drama doesn't quite cover this – The Storyteller somehow comes out on top in the Grade 1 Growise Champion Novice Chase. Absolutely unbelievable… pic.twitter.com/Ga6BwfYRad
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 24, 2018
Townend was subsequently handed a 21 day ban, and was the subject of vile abuse on social media, and his case wasn’t helped by athe actions of the Horse Racing authorities.
Prior to the commencement of day two of the festival, Townend issued a statement in response to his error of judgement.
“I thought I heard a shout and that the last fence was being bypassed,” he said.
“It was a split second reaction. I wish to apologise to connections and to punters. I’d like to leave this behind and move on with today’s rides.”
And move on with today’s rides he did.
He was already back in the winners enclosure after the second race of the day. The 28-year-old steered Willie Mullins’ 11-4 shot Pravalaguna to a convincing 8 length victory in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel hurdle.
Good man, @PTownend! pic.twitter.com/LrECAJVuU5
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 25, 2018
The relief was clear in the jock’s face during his post race interview with his colleague Ruby Walsh on RTÉ. It’s well and truly in the vapours now.
When Ruby asked him about his thoughts on yesterday’s mishap, his response was just perfect.
If victory in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle on Pravalaguna didn't help Paul Townend over his mishap yesterday, we think Ruby Walsh did. #rteracing pic.twitter.com/JQFvpJXQa4
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 25, 2018
And the Punchestown crowd loved it.
