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15th March 2019
05:19pm GMT

“I thought I heard a shout and that the last fence was being bypassed," he said in a statement the next day. “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.”That was a man hurting hard. Willie Mullins probably was too but he hasn't got to where he is today without loyalty to those who've served him well. Paul Townend has served him better than most. One of Mullins' most reliable lieutenants, the 2010/2011 Champion jockey has enjoyed more good days in the saddle than bad and it's rare that he's let his boss man down. And by the very next day, the Cork man was doing what he does, doing what he always has done. Mullins gave him another chance and Townend was back in the winners enclosure leaving it all behind him. Fast forward another ten months and it's still business as usual for the Carlow based team. Townend has moved on - has expertly steered some of Mullins' finest to glory in the mean-time, none more so than Duc Des Genievres in Tuesday's Arkle, but maybe, maybe this one was written in the stars. On Cheltenham Friday, on Gold Cup day - Townend was booked in for the ride on, you guessed it, his old pal, for the most iconic steeplechase of all. You'd better believe it, they bounded up the Cleeve hill, irrepressible, unmatched and Townend had finally and fully put those Punchestown demons to bed. https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1106580444361957377 A masterclass of a ride. Townend's face told a story in itself. https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1106584635964907522 His post-race interview with Racing TV told even more.
"My body's tingling, I swear to God it's shaking, I genuinely can't believe it."https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1106589279483031552 It's a game with many swings and plenty of roundabouts, but at the end of the day, it's a wonderful, wonderful game.
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