Townend back in business with double

OUT of action with a broken collar-bone since March 26, Paul Townend returned in style when registering a double on odds-on favourites Rattan and Killultagh Queen at Ballinrobe last night where trainer Willie Mullins went on to complete a treble with Bless N’ject in the bumper.

The double increased Townend’s lead over Davy Russell (successful on Face Facts) to five, 78-73, in the race for the Jockeys Championship.

And the young Cork rider declared: “The shoulder feels perfect. A few more winners like that would be grand,” after Killultagh Queen belatedly opened her account, at the fifth attempt, when recording an impressive win in the Roundfort Stores Beginners Chase.