Paul Townend © Photo Healy Racing
Paul Townend recorded a double at Killarney yesterday after winning the Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Scaramanga at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday.
Malcolm Denmark's eight-year-old, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls, had finished fourth to Langer Dan in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham on his previous start. Waited with by Townend, he came through between horses to lead at the last in Saturday's three-mile contest before staying on well to beat Snap Decision, bidding to complete a hat-trick of wins in the race, by three and three quarter lengths.
Having jetted back in time to win on Saldier and Hauturiere at the Kerry venue, Townend reflected on his Stateside success.
“It’s brilliant and nice to win on foreign soil. It was a good pot and a good find by David Casey.
“Fair play to Malcolm (Denmark, owner) for going as well as it was a brave shout on the back of what he’d done for us.
“There is a lot of money to be made there but you need the right type of horse.
“He was brave to go through the gap and picked up well.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
