Talking about equine planes can wait because, at the moment, Paul Townend delirits on fast cars and the day a dream has come true.
Townend is Hunt’s best national rider of his generation, a man on the brink of history. As a stable jockey for Willie Mullins’ construction, it should be feast of prices when the Cheltenham festival ends on Friday – the one he wants is a third consecutive gold cup on Galopin des Champs.
For all its success – 148 grade, 34 victories from Cheltenham, six Irish jockey championships, a victory in the Grand National – Townend is comfortable flying under the radar but, in front of the four days that count most in the race, he agreed to open up like never before.
So there is it, transporting itself to Barcelona last June for what was a life trip to the Spanish Grand Prix with a close friend Danny Mullins. He shares memories with infectious enthusiasm, revealing a vertigo that many would not expect a high -level sportsman watch.
“We were like children in a sweet factory, honest towards God,” shines Towend. “I just walk in the doors, seeing the village with all the hospitality and the garages. Jesus, the speed they are going! Fortunately, we were at Red Bull Hospitality … We were starred by looking at the menu!
“We had a coffee, the next thing Max Verstappen passes in front of me. Then Daniel Ricciardo sits down to have breakfast. They are like what I thought that jockeys were when I grew up – superhero and untouchable.
Paul Townend underlined his desire to obtain a new glory at the Gold Cup
Townend hopes that he and gallop of the fields will be able to succeed in succeeding
At the Spanish Grand Prix, Townend got closer to stars such as Max Verstappen
“Have we asked for photos?” No, no. We did not get too close. We talked about a few ex-pilots and things like that, but we left the main boys alone. We met Charles Leclerc in one of the hotels. He was going down dinner with his girlfriend. It was crazy!
Townend would not agree but he is considered a superhero now. When Galopin des Champs won the pursuit of Savills at Leopardstown on December 28, it took him 20 minutes to walk 20 paddock yards in the weighing room when he signed all the autographs and posed for all selfies.
“You feel like a little fraud, to be honest,” he said quietly. “But I love it when children come because it was me not so long ago. I was this child. I remember that Jamie Moore (winner of the festival) came to Limerick one day and he gave me a pair of glasses.
“I went to bed with them!” Any jockey who gave me anything was like giving me lottery numbers in adulthood. So I love to see the children and stop to talk to them because I remember what I felt when I met a jockey growing up. It does not seem that Methey should stop for me.
But they stop because Townend did something that no one thought it was possible: he entered the role left vacant by Ruby Walsh, which many consider the best of all time, and prospered. In some ways, it is the equivalent of Racing of Lewis Hamilton taking the seat of Michael Schumacher in Mercedes.
Hamilton won six world titles from 2013, Townend delivered a first gold cup for Mullins, on Al Boum Photo, in 2019, and three others to make a good measure. The comparison between Formula 1 and the race is something it can see, especially due to the great risk and the reward.
“You have to be crazy to do both!” He laughs. “The road to survive hooked me. I thought of tactics and everything that was going behind the scenes. It is definitely linked. There are only so many seats available, it’s very technical. I suppose that a certain way, the race itself is the boring part.
“If you look at a Grand Prix, you think it’s just a case to get to the front, then go as fast as possible and win. There are so many other parts and variables. The weather changes, the floor changes. They get the most out of their tires, it’s like saving energy. It’s cool, like.
Townend has thought about his hard work and learning Ruby Walsh
Townend studies form like a pilling student for exams, without leaving anything to chance
Galopin des fields is a special horse “ special ” said Townend as he prepares for his last test
Townend has worked in Mullins Yard since the age of 15, the age at which he lost his mother. Now 34 years old, he is at his peak but does not think that his position is linked to longtime relationships; The owners for whom he rolls expect results.
“It’s like a driver,” he says. “If they do not play on the siege, they have come out, right?” You are there to do a job and this is also where your work concerns luck. I had a good long race at the start of my career, looking at Ruby and learning. So I had time but you have to put the hours.
“You make mistakes and people stay by your side. Once you no longer make the same mistake, it can be easily forgiven. You ride any horse for Willie, any day, you need to give comments.
“If he is not in the races, we speak before and after each race. If you ask you a question and you do not have the answer, it is disappointed with you. It was instilled in me since I started. Willie continues to adjust the bar higher and challenge herself each year. If he does it, you must also do it to be part of it.
However, taking up the challenge is not a problem when you have the book of rides that Townend has this week. Starting with Kopek des Bordes in the obstacle of supreme novices, the chances of winning will occur as quickly as prices on the treadmill of the generation game.
He has won in Cheltenham since a breakthrough in 2011 on a four -year -old hardler called what a charm and what a trip was for a man who, 12 months ago, became the first jockey since 1930 to make the Hurdle champion, the Gold Cup and the Grand National Treble in the same season. You would think that he would then be relaxed, but the pile of paperwork in front of him says the opposite. He studies form like a pilling student for exams, without leaving anything to chance. Why would he be when Galopin des fields would be about to imitate the triple winners of the Best Mate and Arkle Gold Cup?
“Whoever tells you that he does not become nervous tells you a lie,” he smiles. “Or they don’t give him the respect he deserves, I think. The nerves are good, once they are channeled in the right direction. They give you an advantage, make you sharper.
“Tuesday morning in Cheltenham, when I come back from the exit, I will force myself to have a slice of toast but I will not eat the crust!” These are the nerves! Winning never becomes “the same” – if anything, it becomes more addictive. I know what I have to ride, but you try not to Jinx saying the bad thing before. You have to go out to do it. You are afraid to take it for it that it has already happened. But I’ll tell you this: Galopin is special.
It is indeed. He is the horse with the Formula 1 engine – and Townend is in the conduct of his life.
