PAUL Townend moved three winners clear of injured Jack Kennedy in the jockeys’ championship at Fairyhouse on Wednesday where the five-time champion completed a treble for trainer Willie Mullins.

The pair began by winning the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, with owner Bruton Street’s Instit which easily justified 2/7 favouritism in scoring by 15 lengths from stablemate Pont Aval.

Townend said afterwards: “We put a set of earplugs in her today and she was more controllable. Even when they came up behind me she wasn’t trying to tear off. She was more measured and more rideable.

Popping away

“She was entitled to win, if she had gotten beat you would have been very disappointed and the way in which she raced was very nice. We were popping away, she had a more relaxed approach and when I wanted her, she was there.”

Mullins and Townend’s second winner was 1/7 favourite Lot Of Joy, for the Over The Sticks Syndicate, in the Fairyhouse Schooling Races (Mares) Maiden Hurdle.

Winner of the 2021 Swedish St Leger, Lot Of Joy was scoring on her third hurdles start and won effortlessly by 12 lengths from Cash The Cheque.

Best thing

Trainer Mullins said: “Lot Of Joy is learning and bringing her back to two miles was probably the best thing to do.

“She’s settling better and jumping better. We’re very pleased with her progress. She’s in the Mares’ Novice at Cheltenham and I’d imagine that will be her next target. She’ll be easier to ride there as there is usually a very good pace in that.”

Townend was crowned champion jockey for the first time in the 2010/’11 season, finishing with 80 winners, and reached that same number on his third winner of the day, Viva Devito (4/5 favourite), in the Easter Festival Maiden Hurdle.

The tearaway six-year-old led after jumping the first and went on to record a bloodless 21 lengths win from Stuzzikini.

Mullins stated: “I’m not sure that he settled but he looks a powerful jumper. He’s very forward going and I’d imagine I’ll plan a campaign at home and maybe end up at Fairyhouse at Easter. I’m hoping that, going over fences could settle him and we’ll look forward to that, maybe next season.”

VELVET Elvis (7/2) returned to winning ways in the Fairyhouse Easter Festival Rated Chase, with trainer Tom Gibney now eyeing a tilt at Aintree’s Grand National.

Sixth in year’s Irish National at today’s venue, the Derek Kierans-owned gelding was pulled up in both the Troytown Chase and at Limerick over Christmas on recent runs but turned around his season here when making all under Darragh O’Keeffe to beat Minella Crooner by three and a half lengths.

Gibney reported: “That’s a relief for a small yard like ours as Derek is our biggest spending owner but the two horses he has with me (Velvet Elvis and Hartur D’arc) had flopped simultaneously this season.

“We had very high hopes for both at the start of the season and we’ve done all the tests going, but had no answers and you are scratching your head. It was a 100% recovery mission here and we’re definitely on the way back, which is good.

“Aintree (for the Grand National) was always the main aim from the start of the season but today could have been the end of the season if it was like the previous couple of races. Jumping is what he’s all about and Aintree is definitely now the main plan.”

Well supported

The other chase on the card was the Fairyhouse Members 2023 Handicap Chase which saw well-supported Sunnyvilla (morning 20s, returned 10/1) score for trainer Donie Hassett and jockey Sean O’Keeffe.

Previously successful when landing a sizeable Clonmel gamble in November 2021, the eight-year-old today scored an all-out head success from faster-finishing Priory Park.

Jockey O’Keeffe said: “I’m delighted with him, he jumped really well and probably settled better today, he was a little bit fresh in himself the last day.

“The lads have done a good job and he came on from the last day, it was a good run.

“He was tight to the last but he’s so quick and fast. He has loads of scope and even getting in tight he was quick away from it. I’m glad he just held on.”

MAYO owner/breeder Robert Hennelly was on the mark in the Book Your Easter Tickets Rated Novice Hurdle with half-length winner Henning (18/1), for trainer Denis Hogan and jockey Daniel King.

It was King’s 30th winner and having taken today out from his mock exams for his Leaving Certificate, reported: “She’s a nice filly. She had a few issues after her win in Clonmel but the team at home have done a great job and they’ve got her back to her best.

“She stays a bit further so I was always conscious of keeping the revs up on the leader the whole way. When I asked her, she picked up and she galloped all the way to the line.”

Jockey Jordan Gainford followed up a weekend Grade 1 Sandown winner on Gerri Colombe with another success for trainer Gordon Elliott on Gordons Aura (5/2) in the Bulmers Bundle For Easter Maiden Hurdle.

Raced green

The Michael Phillips-owned son of Golden Horn made the running and raced green in the early stages but battled well to beat 4/6 favourite Paradise Lost by half a length.

Gainford said: “Gordons Aura had to do all the hard work in front. Coming off his last run we were hopeful that he’d be bang there. It was a good performance.

“For a horse that’s after having a couple of runs he was taking a good look in front but in fairness to him, when it got down to the nitty gritty he dug deep.”

Robyndeglory (11/1) bounced back to win another race for under Declan Queally in the concluding Bobbyjo Day February 25th Handicap Hurdle, scoring for the jockey’s father and trainer of the same name, as the mare notched a fifth career success in Fairyhouse’s concluding race.

Robyndeglory was beaten 34 lengths at Limerick over Christmas and today returned to form with a first win since last May, beating Quite Incredible by three and a half lengths in the colours of Ms Bridget O’Mahony.

Queally junior revealed: “She’s a funny mare as every time retirement is mentioned, the owners say ‘do you want to have a spin on her and see what’s happening?’ That has happened the last three times she won and I keep winning on her!”