Townend confirmed as champion again as Gaillard Du Mesnil gets second Grade 1

A fifth winner on just his eighth ride of the week sealed Paul Townend fourth jockeys' championship triumph, with Rachael Blackmore's valiant pursuit becoming mathematically impossible after Gaillard Du Mesnil's success in the Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle.

The defection of Blackmore's intended mount Bob Olinger due to coughing made the task significantly more straightforward than initially expected, with Willie Mullins supplying three of the remaining four runners.

It wasn't the free-going winner's most flashy performance of the season, but he showed plenty of grit to see off the determined challenge of the Jessica Harrington-trained Ashdale Bob to make it two top-level victories this term.

Mullins believes there could be more to come from the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned five-year-old next season, not ruling out the possibility of a novice chasing campaign.

Willie Mullins on Gaillard Du Mesnil: 'There's a good possibility he could jump a fence next season'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's still very immature racing and once he settles back into it, I think he'll improve again," said the champion trainer, registering his 15th winner of the week. He made it 16 with El Barra 30 minutes later to move within two of his biggest festival tally in 2018.

"There's a good possibility he could jump a fence next season, it might help him settle. He's too busy during his races all the time. When he learns to relax, I think he'll give a lot more."

Townend admitted that even for such a small-field affair, the €100,000 event was a somewhat messy race to ride in.

The Donnellys' other runner Ganapathi was in the process of throwing down a real challenge for second when crashing out at the last under Bryan Cooper, leaving Ashdale Bob to claim the runner-up spot and front-running N'golo well adrift in third.

Paddy Power left the 1-2 winner unchanged at 16-1 for next year's Marsh Novices' Chase and 25-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

Paul Townend: has won four Grade 1s so far this week at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

"It feels brilliant," said Townend after recording his third consecutive century and claiming the title.

"I've been doing a bit of sweating for the last couple of weeks. I'm riding for the champion trainer so I'm probably supposed to be champion jockey, it's nice to be that."

He added: "Especially with the momentum Rachael had coming out of Cheltenham and then when I saw her do what she did at Aintree, everything was happening for her. It's a game that you have to ride your luck a bit in and I was lucky to have the support of Willie and his team.

"Ruby [Walsh] is obviously a big part of it still and David Casey is very helpful to me at home, as is Patrick Mullins and the rest of the jockeys, Brian Hayes, Bryan Cooper and Danny Mullins – we all work together as a team and I think it works really well.

"A lot of work went into getting me here and thankfully we've produced a few winners."

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