‘He is just my ultimate’ – Mullins heaps praise on record-breaker Townend

Willie Mullins was fulsome in his praise of Paul Townend having watched his jockey become the most successful in Cheltenham Gold Cup history with his victory aboard Gaelic Warrior.

Townend pulled clear of Pat Taaffe who also won the race on Fort Leney as well as his three successes on the mighty Arkle.

The 35-year-old was coolness personified on the eight-year-old – who barely came off the bridle – as he added to his two wins each with Al Boum Photo and Galopin Des Champs.

In seeing Gaelic Warrior win, Mullins has joined Arkle’s trainer Tom Dreaper on five victories in the blue riband.

“I wasn’t aware that he had won the Gold Cup more than any other jockey, that’s incredible,” Mullins, who was also crowned leading trainer at the meeting for an incredible 13th time, told the Press Association.

“What I always say about Paul is that he is just so cool, he’s especially good under pressure and there is no pressure like Gold Cup day in Cheltenham.

“I always find when the going gets tough, Paul gets going. He is just my ultimate man. When you need a bit of coolness, Paul is the man that can provide it.

“Remember that day at Punchestown when Al Boum Photo ran out with him at the last? A lot of jockeys would have disappeared for a year after something like that happening in a Grade One.

“Not Paul, he came back the following day and rode four winners, he just forgot about it and put it behind him.

“The best compliment I can pay him is that he just comes in and does his job, when you need him he is always there, he’s a fantastic rider.”

On this year’s Gold Cup, Mullins could have barely had a moment of doubt.

“Gaelic was keen enough early on, but then Rebecca Curtis’ horse (Haiti Couleurs) come over in front of him to make the running and I think most race-readers said that was what would happen,” he said.

“A lot of things went according to plan, apart from arriving in front a little earlier than we wanted, but he just had so much in the tank, I was quite happy.

“How he got beat in the Fred Winter (in 2022 on his debut for Mullins) all those years ago is the question we all want to answer!”