Townend picks up where he left off with Tipperary success
ALL IN: Delighted connections of The Rebel County celebrate after Garrett Ahern's five-year-old won the Buy Tickets Online Novice Hunters Chase in the hands of the trainer's son Josh. Picture: Healy Racing
Crowned champion jockey for the seventh time at Punchestown last Saturday, Paul Townend made a perfect start to the new season when scoring on board his first mount of the 2025-2026 campaign, Gold Dancer, in the Hotel Minella Beginners Chase in Tipperary.
The Gigginstown-owned, Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old raced prominently, jumped soundly in the main, and, in the closing stages, saw off Le Coq Hardi by four lengths.
“He’s been so disappointing, but had a run over fences,” said Townend. “Chasing was always going to be his game. He makes lengths over his fences and it’ll take a good novice to lie up with him. I’d say we’ll keep going with him.”
Townend was expected to complete a double for the Closutton team on You Oughta Know in the Ryans Cleaning beginners Chase. However, the 11-8 favourite blundered and unseated the champion jockey at the second fence.
Victory in this event went to the 134-rated, Gordon Elliott-trained Western Fold, positively ridden by Danny Gilligan to put his experience to good use.
The six-year-old, having his sixth run over fences, jumped impeccably and relished every yard of the longer trip, powering home eight lengths clear of Oscars Brother.
Representing Elliott, Lisa O’Neill said: “He had plenty of experience and his jumping improved as he went along. Danny gave him a lovely, positive ride and said he got the run of the race. It’s great to get him on the scoreboard. And I’’d say he’ll keep going through the summer.”
Edward O’Grady registered his first success since November when St Faz, successful on the Flat and over hurdles, opened his chasing account in the Botanica International Handicap Chase.
Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, the 5-2 favourite took command at the second last and stayed on to beat One Last Tango by two and a quarter lengths.
“The horses have been running well without winning, so I’m very pleased this fellow has won,” commented the veteran trainer, “He’s a five-year-old, so might progress and he’ll run in those novice handicaps through the summer.”
The father and son combination of trainer Alex and amateur Luke Burke-Ott struck in the Join Racing TV Now With A Free Month Trial Handicap Chase when Inchidaly Copper recovered from a last fence blunder to outpoint the flattering In The Trenches by a neck.
“The main thing is to keep him fresh and he’s only in six weeks, so we thought he’d need the run,” said the trainer, “I’d say he trains himself and we had no real plan for him. The distance was shorter than ideal for him.”
Another father/son team was on the mark in the Buy Tickets Online Novice Hunters Chase as The Rebel County, owned and trained by Garrett Ahern in Bartlemy, County Cork and giving his son Josh a first racecourse success, saw off favourite Cause For Comment and Keep On Dreaming.
“He loved that summer ground,” declared the winning rider. “He was wicked keen with me and I kept wide for the best ground. I gave him a squeeze turning into the straight and away he went.”
The only four-year-old in the field, Chosen Comrade, described by her trainer Peter Fahey as “not the biggest, but a nice staying filly”, made an impressive debut in the mares' bumper, beating favourite Katie’s Melody comfortably, and proving another winner for in-form John Gleeson.
And, successful with I’m Slippy at Fairyhouse last month, Robert Tyner and Josh Williamson teamed-up again to take the geldings’ bumper with six-year-old Quakerstown scorer Stanners Glen.
