A star is born as Townend guides Pace to land a major Galway Hurdle gamble

A future star of the National Hunt game was born at Ballybrit yesterday when 17-year-old Paul Townend guided Indian Pace to a thrilling victory in the Guinness Galway Hurdle.

The Midleton youngster, enjoying just his fourth success over jumps, gave the John Kiely-trained gelding a magnificent ride to beat Eagle’s Pass by a length.

Attached to the Willie Mullins yard, Townend has been learning his trade riding on the flat and only recently graduated to the more demanding game.