'It was like a restart in a Formula 1 race' - Blue Lord wins stop-start Grade 2

Thursday: Clonmel Oil Chase

Paul Townend timed it to perfection to land a sedately run Clonmel Oil Chase on Blue Lord as the dual Grade 1 winner dug deep to repel a spirited effort from stablemate Tornado Flyer and put himself firmly in the Ryanair Chase picture.

A 1-2 for Willie Mullins in the Grade 2 contest made it a record seventh win for the champion trainer in a race that boasts a roll of honour including such recent greats as Imperial Call, Beef Or Salmon, Dorans Pride, War Of Attrition, Sizing Europe and Douvan.

In his Racing Post stable tour last week, Mullins described the winner as a potential Champion Chase contender, but the intention now is to stay at two and a half miles, and Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power reacted by shortening him to 14-1 (from 16) for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Mullins said: “Paul said he's a much stronger horse this season and he gave him an excellent waiting ride. He probably wanted a lead for longer. He was keen, but by his standards I thought he was relaxed. He might just be better dropped in and relaxing instead of being a front-running two-miler.

“I think we'll map out a programme for him over two and a half miles. He'll get an entry in the Champion Chase, but I think the Ryanair Chase will be his likely target.”

Townend was impressed with the performance, saying: "It was like a restart in a Formula 1 race – we were waiting for when they were going to go. We got levelled out in the straight and I winged the second-last, taking me there quicker than I thought he would.

"I'm delighted with him because anchoring him at the back, I gave away the advantage of jumping so well. I thought Danny [Mullins] might bring me a bit further down the straight. He had a good look at the last and after it."

He added: "He's promised a lot all along and had a great campaign last season, but he feels stronger now. I think he's maturing and he has no problem staying two and a half miles."

Danny Mullins set a modest tempo on Tornado Flyer in the four-runner event, as Townend sat in the rear on the winner as he tackled his longest trip yet.

The race only really developed approaching the third-last fence when Darasso and Pencilfulloflead began to pressurise Tornado Flyer, but Townend was not far behind and began to ask last season's Irish Arkle winner to improve on the run to the second-last, taking the race by the scruff of the neck between the final two fences.

Tornado Flyer ran his best race since his 28-1 victory in last season's King George at Kempton.

Mullins said: “He'll probably go to the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase next with a view to going back to Kempton if he comes out of that well. Danny said he took a nice blow. He always seems to do his best work early in the season, I don't remember him ever showing up after Christmas.”

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