Townend sets ball rolling in final-week championship chase

Paul Townend partnered his first Punchestown winner this week on Willie Mullins' Daddy Long Legs (16/5f) in today's Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle, and thus set the ball rolling in his final-week pursuit of jockeys' championship leader Jack Kennedy.

Carrying the Galopin Des Champs colours of Marie and Joe Donnelly, Daddy Long Legs led travelling strongly at the second-last and quickly eased clear of his 23 rivals to eventually score by five lengths from Brentford Hope

The win moves six-time champion jockey Townend to 116 wins this season, six behind Jack Kennedy while trainer Mullins was himself completing a double on the day, having earlier won with Grade 1 winner Mystical Power

Mullins reported “he showed a huge turn of foot. He was in front way too soon, and I'm sure Paul would have kicked himself but he said to me the horse just carried him and he didn't want to disappoint him.

“He's a horse that could go back on the Flat and is maybe one for Royal Ascot. He's still a maiden on the Flat, he's only had one run when finishing second in France.

“I'd say he's very ground dependent, in winter time in heavy ground he wasn't able to handle it but on this ground it seems to be a different ball game. He surprised me, especially after being in Ludlow last week. To come back from England and do that in a big handicap is good.”

Quotes from Gary Carson