Jockey Paul Townend hit by 21-day ban for dangerous riding at Punchestown
Jockey Paul Townend was banned for 21 days for dangerous riding on Tuesday night after inexplicably throwing away victory on Al Boum Photo in the €100,000 Grade One Growise Champion Novice Chase.
Why Townend stood up in his stirrups and appeared to look behind him when approaching the final fence before steering right and crashing through the wing as he tried to bypass the obstacle remains a mystery.
Townend avoided any attempt to explain his actions and Al Boum Photo’s trainer Willie Mullins was reported to have stormed off the track.
Jockey Paul Townend was banned for 21 days for dangerous riding on Tuesday night
The theory that Townend believed his mount had been injured was undermined by the fact that Al Boum Photo returned sound. Also taken out in the move was Colin Tizzard-trained Finian’s Oscar, launching a potent challenge under jockey Robbie Power, who could be seen shouting at Townend.
Why Townend, who was also ordered by the Punchestown stewards to forfeit his riding fee, thought he might have to avoid the final obstacle in the three-mile race was also unclear.
Was it a shout from behind or the crowd? It looked like a brainstorm from a rider with vast experience of riding this track.
What is certain is the move ruined what was setting up to be a brilliant day for Mullins.
By the end of the week it may also have cost Mullins the Irish trainers’ championship. To make the incident even more painful for Mullins, the shenanigans ended up with his big rival Gordon Elliott finishing with a 1-2-3 in the race led home by Davy Russell-ridden 16-1 shot The Storyteller.
The drama meant Elliott ended day one of this five-day meeting just over €400,000 ahead with Mullins having shaved €100,000 off his lead in the title race. It should have been much more.
Un De Sceaux’s victory in the €275,000 Boylesport Champion Chase was the centrepiece of a treble for Mullins, who also landed the Herald Champion Novices’ Hurdle with the Noel Fehily-ridden 25-1 shot Draconien and the Killashee Handicap Hurdle with Rachael Blackmore-ridden True Self. Elliott also hit back with Commander In Chief leading home a 1-2-3 in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper.
Un De Sceaux, a 9-2 chance, was ridden by Mullins’s amateur jockey son Patrick and he made all in trademark fashion to beat Townend-ridden stablemate and 4-5 favourite Douvan.
The major skirmishes today revolve around the Punchestown Gold Cup, where Mullins’s four-strong team is headed by Djakadam. Elliott runs only Outlander.
We should also hopefully get an explanation from Mullins and Townend.