Ruby isn't here. But Paul Townend is - and I don't see a difference

Ruby isn’t here. It’s a cold Friday morning in November and we’re schooling the novice chasers. Ruby isn’t here but Paul Townend is.

Thirty-two years old, five-time champion jockey, more than 1,100 winners, 23 at the Cheltenham Festival. Two Gold Cups. One of only six jockeys to have ridden a century of winners in an Irish jumps season: Ruby, Davy Russell, Paul Carberry, Barry Geraghty, Charlie Swan (with a record of 150) and Townend. Rare air.

Townend hops down after blitzing up over four fences on Sir Gerhard and jumps up on Whatdeawant and does the same again. Danny Mullins, Jack Foley and Brian Hayes follow him down the strip. He canters back, nods to Willie and returns to the ground. Willie heads off walking the gallop, followed enthusiastically by Hattie, a large Rottweiler, and Munch, a small Pikachu-type dog. The jockeys return to the yard to wait for next lot.