DREAM STATE Townend feeling very ‘privileged’

A grand’ win for Emmet

perfectly for Townend - enjoying an untroubled run on the inside rail and producing him to pass Irish Point approaching the last.

The Gordon Elliott trained runner-up battled on gamely to get to within a length and a quarter with Lucia back in third.

Confidence

“I was amazed with the way Paul rode him, I thought he’d be much more forward, I didn’t dream that he’d only be fifth or sixth jumping the fourth-last. But he just rode him with supreme confidence,” said Mullins.

“I thought he’d make more use of his stamina, but Paul seemed to ride him for speed today and he clearly felt there was enough in the ground to take it out of the horses in front of him.

“But when jockeys are riding with confidence, they can do things like that and I feel that’s the way he’s been riding all season. He’s a fantastic jockey.”

Bookmakers were stung by the Mullins treble with Boylesports reporting: “That day is going to sting for a while. The Willie Mullins bankers continue to

PAUL TOWNEND said the pressure of riding for Willie Mullins is a “privilege” after scoring an sensational Grade 1 hat-trick on the opening afternoon of Cheltenham.

Townend’s first Champion Hurdle win on State Man (right) was the middle leg of a blue chip treble that also included Gaelic Warrior in the Arkle and Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle.

“The pressure is a privilege, there’s no doubt about that and anyone would want it but it’s pressure at the same time and it’s a relief when it goes right, as much as ecstasy of winning?,” said Townend (33), who now has 31 Festival career successes.

“It is pretty simple when you’re riding very good horses. It’s a funny place, this.

“It is very easy to ride when you’re on a good one, and it’s very difficult when you’re not going well.

“I’m privileged to be riding these horses. And the privilege is

blow us, and any chance of coming out ahead, away. It’s only day one but it could be a long week as we continue to battle it out with the punters!”

Mullins was back in the winners’ enclosure when Lossiemouth added the Mares’ Hurdle to her Triumph Hurdle success 12 months ago - and could now face her Champion Hurdle winning stablemate.

“She is a Champion Hurdle mare, I think. Once again, Paul was just so cool on her. She can improve, she can go on, a year older, running like that in that ground, the way she jumps, she’s got everything.”

There had been calls for Mullins to reroute Lossiemouth to yesterday’s Champion Hurdle following Constitution HIll’s withdrawal but Mullins was adamant

STATEMENT OF INTENT: Paul

Townend on the way to victory with State Man and (left) Trainer Willie Mullins with the trophy after winning the Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy with State Man on day one of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival

Difficult

definitely not lost, privileged I am.”

He admitted to being nervous in the build-up to this week with some big decision to make, saying: “I was actually relatively okay last night, probably the best I’ve been.

“The two weeks before are as bad as anything because you’re trying to work out what Willie is going to send anywhere and figure out everything.

“The choices were made last night and it was just go and deliver them.”

I know how

he made the right call.

“We made the right decision, end of story. She’ll be trained for Punchestown, and then I’ll chat to Rich and Susannah and I imagine the Champion Hurdle.”

It’s a race jump racing fans will already be drooling over. A fit again Constitution Hill taking on State Man and Lossiemouth in 2025. And then there’s Ballyburn. Bring it on!

TRAINER Emmet Mullins took the race named in honour of his late grandmother as Corbetts Cross was much the best in the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

A 15-8 chance under Derek O’Connor, the chestnut travelled well throughout and let Mr Vango and Gina Andrews make the running.

Effort

As the race wore on Corbetts Cross advanced and up the hill he pulled effortlessly clear of Patrick Mullins and Embassy Gardens (7-4 favourite) to secure a 17-length triumph.

Mullins (above) – son of renowned horse transporter George Mullins – said: “It was a great honour from the Jockey Club to name the race after granny and it’s extra special that we were able to win it.

“We were always very hopeful, I suppose he had the form in the book to be second in the Arkle today and he was able to show the same turn of foot over this longer trip.

“Derek got him into a great rhythm and he showed his true colours today, I think.”

LARK

In The Mornin landed the Boodles Juvenile

Handicap Hurdle for Joseph O’Brien and J J Slevin.

The bay was a 9-1 chance and kept his powder dry early on in a rough and tumble race in which plenty of combinations parted ways. Slevin was always handily placed, however, and pulled away from the field ahead of the final flight to hold off all challengers and prevail by two lengths. O’Brien said: “We had a pretty strong view that he wanted better ground but I thought J J gave him a fantastic ride and found the best of the ground.

“He saved ground all the way and he had plenty left in the locker jumping the last.

“I’m delighted for everyone connected with the horse, to have a winner here is very special.

“We thought he was coming here with a live chance but so much rain fell we had a conversation whether to run or not, luckily we did.”