YOU would have forgiven Paul Townend if he had taken the day off after he had ridden Al Boum Photo to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. You would have understood it if he had wanted to take the day off to consider what he had just achieved, appreciate his accomplishment, wallow in the accolades. The fulfillment of a lifetime ambition. But that is not Paul Townend’s way.

He was riding at Down Royal the following day. It would be like Stephen Cluxton playing a game at Parnell Park on the day after he had lifted the Sam Maguire.