Paul Townend: It was some buzz - I never thought I'd be top rider at Cheltenham
Richie Forristal talks to the rider whose festival week ended on a huge high
In an attempt to illustrate the humility required to excel as a jump jockey, 12 months ago we painted a portrait of Paul Townend returning from his glorious Magners Gold Cup nirvana to be pummelled into the turf the following day at Down Royal.
Getting unceremoniously buried seemed a convenient tool with which to convey that, even in the highest echelon of your vocation, scaling Everest didn’t preclude you from falling off a stool.
It’s not a job that allows you to get above your station, and Townend was still in the process of shaking off Rachael Blackmore’s persistent attentions in his quest to secure a second jockeys’ title.
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Copy- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard
- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
- 'He must have his breakfast earlier than Willie does' - Patrick Mullins goes behind enemy lines at Gordon Elliott's yard