Redemption for Paul Townend as Allaho powers to second Ryanair Chase triumph

Thursday: Ryanair Chase, Cheltenham

It’s something that has long been established but Willie Mullins was glad to be reminded of Paul Townend’s sheer strength of character after he and Allaho ground their Ryanair Chase rivals into submission with another remorseless display of running and jumping.

Townend’s day got off to a miserable start with Galopin Des Champs’ cruel last-fence fall in the Turners’ Novice Chase. Just over an hour later, though, he rode with the abandon of a jockey on the crest of a wave, to such an extent that he didn’t even elect for the safe option and go short at the final fence when clear.

Allaho, for once, disagreed with him and put down, but Townend sat tight and his mount never broke stride despite brushing through the fence. That apart, it was another flawless, emphatic front-running rout, Allaho seeing last year’s 12-length margin and raising it by two, with Janidil this time emerging from behind to finish second.

Townend’s steely resilience was arguably first displayed in all its resplendent glory on the big stage four years ago when he put the horror of his Al Boum Photo blunder at Punchestown behind him to light up the following day’s racing with an inspired three-timer.

He was clearly on the best horse in the race here, but Mullins was minded to laud the manner in which he responds to adversity.

“Paul was already under huge pressure after the way the horse jumped and galloped for Rachael Blackmore last year, and after the first race then it added more pressure,” he mused afterwards.

“But I always say Paul Townend is better with pressure. When someone is leaning on his neck, he excels and that’s what I love about Paul, he just gets out and gets the job done. They were poetry in motion.

“You wouldn’t think he had any nerves at all the way he just jumped out and went from fence to fence in that race. He came down to the last as if it wasn’t there and that’s the mark of a champion. I’m delighted he's on our side.”

Full result and race replay from the Ryanair Chase

Townend’s redemptive triumph, which saw the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Allaho emulate Albertas Run as a dual Ryanair winner, was his third of the week. Deploying the fast-and-furious prototype that Blackmore spawned on Allaho in 2021, he bounced the eight-year-old out in front on the drying ground and got him into a beautiful rhythm.

Eldorado Allen tried to keep tabs on him but couldn’t live with the 4-7 shot’s awesome athleticism, although to his credit he kept on gamely to finish third. Conflated was trying to raise a challenge when he came down two-out, but he still had a lot of ground to make up at the time.

Townend played down his role in the victory, deflecting to Allaho’s incredible ability to set strong fractions and maintain them. “He is a beast,” he said. “I was going the gallop he wanted to go. I don’t interfere with him. Once he was jumping and galloping at that speed, it was going to take a fair one to come by him.

“It makes you wonder why I didn’t pick him last year, doesn’t it? He’s just really good and it was straightforward. That’s what he likes doing and I’m delighted.”

Of the last-fence disagreement, the rider, who won the race on Min in 2020, added: “I had to keep going and he sorted himself out. Once we got away from the far side of it, I was happy.”

So was Mullins, although he conceded he had his heart in his mouth.

“I was a nervous wreck,” he said only half-jokingly of what was his fifth win of the week and his fifth in the Ryanair. “The horse was doing everything right for Paul and then coming to the last I’m thinking here we go again! But he got over it.”

Allaho jumps the last under Paul Townend en route to a second Ryanair Chase successCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

“I thought this year people were keeping an eye on him up the front but he showed he’s able to gallop and jump them into submission.”

Last season concluded with Chacun Pour Soi taking the wind out of Allaho’s sails over two miles at Punchestown. Mullins suggested all roads would likely lead back to him having a tilt at becoming the first horse to win the Ryanair three times in 2023, and he wasn’t biting when asked if a stab at the King George might appeal along the way.

“I like to stick to what works so I’d be planning for the Ryanair again," he said. “We might go back to two miles for Punchestown, we’ll see. I suppose I have a bone to pick with the two-mile race there with him.”

Read more Cheltenham reports:

Agony for Galopin Des Champs as final-fence exit hands Bob Olinger 999-1 victory

Ruby Walsh 'heartbroken' for Paul Townend after devastating blow on Galopin

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