Paul Townend: if I can have half as much success as Ruby I'll be thrilled

Over to you, Paul. It's not the first time Townend has been hoisted into the hottest seat in Irish racing, but this time he's here to stay. The super sub is now the star striker for Team Closutton.

"I'm excited, very excited. It is not as though I am being thrown straight in at the deep end, though," said Willie Mullins' new number one, who does not turn 29 until September.

"I have tasted it quite a bit over the years down to Ruby's misfortune with injuries, so I feel like I am ready for the challenge. I'm going to enjoy it. If I can have even half as much success as Ruby has had over the years I would be absolutely thrilled. He's been unbelievable."

Townend, who will be crowned champion jockey for a second time on Saturday, has spent the last decade as understudy to Walsh, but was there ever a moment when he felt like moving on and becoming first choice somewhere else?

"No, never," he replied. "How could you ever think of moving on when you have a job in a powerhouse stable like Willie's? There were obviously times when I was frustrated, but I always got over it and Willie always had ways of keeping me sweet!"

It's lucky he did as Mullins now has the current champion as his stable jockey.

Total Recall and Paul Townend (right) battle it out with Whisper in a thriller for the Ladbrokes Trophy at NewburyCredit: Edward Whitaker

It says something when you have nothing but the utmost respect and gratitude for the man who has had the job you wanted for the last decade, but that is exactly the way Townend feels after the shock news of Ruby Walsh's retirement.

"Ruby has been unbelievable for my career. There was never any rivalry between us. It always felt like we were part of the same team," said Townend.

"If he picked the wrong one and I won a race he would always be one of the first over to congratulate me. Not only that, but if there was a race where we were both riding for Willie, he would often give me advice on what I was riding. He was great like that.

"We've been working together since I was an apprentice at Willie's and I will be eternally grateful for all he has done for me. He has given me terrific guidance."

Ruby Walsh and Kemboy lead Paul Townend on Al Boum Photo over the final fence in the Coral Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Getty Images

With all the hysteria in the aftermath of the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup, the performance of Cheltenham hero Al Boum Photo was almost forgotten and Townend was keen to stress the horse felt flat.

"I knew after four fences that he wasn't the same horse as the horse I won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on, so I had plenty of time to get my head around not winning!" he said.

"Unlike at Cheltenham, I was never in control of the race and, to be honest, it was actually a huge performance by him to get as close as he did to Kemboy. Knowing that he wasn't himself, I thought that was a massive display from him.

"In fairness, it was some display by Kemboy too. He was taken on the whole way by Definitly Red and still had enough in hand to hold me off. He's a super stayer."

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