Cheltenham review: Paul Townend rides double despite Gold Cup treble disappointment

Inothewayurthinkin is the new Gold Cup Champion after denying Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend racing immortality in an epic battle on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. 

JP McManus had supplemented Gavin Cromwell’s stable star and he stormed up the famous hill for a convincing victory. 

In truth, the firmer ground conditions didn’t suit the favourite Galopin Des Champs while the real emergence of Gavin Cromwell as a trainer was confirmed on the biggest stage of all. While Townend will be gutted to lose out in a Gold Cup he will take some consolation after riding a double on the day aboard Kargese and Jasmin De Vaux.

Townend was at his brilliant best as Kargese  produced a determined display to justify favouritism in the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham. 

Last season’s Triumph Hurdle runner-up was a little keen early on for  Townend but they made a forward move from midfield on the turn for home and seemed set for a smooth success once striking the front which was part of a four-timer for Willie Mullins.

Mullins said: “We felt she was strong and this generation were well-handicapped, so that’s why we took a chance and came here. 

"We’ve had three of the first four so we may have got that right. She was too keen at Ascot but I needed to get a run into her and it’s very hard to come here without a run.

“All last season I knew I wouldn’t want her for the autumn and we’d give her a chance in the spring. She is so hard on herself in her racing, so we said we’d concentrate on this time of year. 

She will go over a longer trip in time but for now she would be too hard on herself and the jockey. 

"But Paul is good on all of these horses especially around here on the biggest days of all.” 

SMOOTH

Jasmin De Vaux was given a real patient ride by Townend as the six-year-old travelled smoothly to take control entering the home straight. 

The big challenge came from Doneraille’s Darragh O’Keeffe who was riding The Big Westerner. He threw down a strong challenge at the final flight, but 6-1 chance Jasmin De Vaux maintained his advantage on the run-in to prevail by two and a half lengths and give trainer Willie Mullins   his fourth win of the day.

Mullins – was equalling his own record of 10 winners for the week – said: “We’ve done a lot of schooling with him and he’s just so unnatural jumping and Paul said he made a mess of the third-last, but he jumped the last two well when we wanted.” 

 Elsewhere on the card, Gordon Elliot landed the final race of the meeting as the well-touted Wodhooh was a runaway winner of the concluding Martin Pipe conditional riders race under Danny Gilligan. 

It was a week that was dominated by Willie Mullins and Paul Townend despite the disappointing defeats of State Man in the Champion Hurdle and Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.

Finally, this meeting was dominated by the memory of Michael O’Sullivan and the tributes across the week were very touching by his fellow jockeys. 

Kopek Des Bordes got those tributes underway on the opening race of the festival for the McCarthy family and right through the week we were reminded of a very special person who was taken from us so young. Racing is one big family and this was demonstrated across the week by fans from both sides of the Irish sea.