An afternoon can be a long time in racing and Paul Townend experienced the highs and lows of the game inside just three races at the Ryanir Chase is up next on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.
After he watched the Grade 1 Turners Novice Chase slip from his grasp, he landed the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase (2:50) on Allaho.
The race provided another winner of the Grade 1 prize for Willie Mullins as the 4/7 chance secured back-to-back renewals of the prize.
Getting into rhythm is key in National Hunt racing and Allaho was able to grind his rivals into submission.
Bar a somewhat untidy leap at the last, this was an imperious performance from the winner and having assumed the lead in the early stages, the remainder never really threatened to lay a glove on him.
Eldorado Allen tried to pursue him for a long way but there was always plenty left in the tank and when market rival Conflated came to grief at the second last, the dangers were only ever in front.
Janidil kept on for second as the winner scored by an eased-down 14 lengths.
The winning rider told ITV Racing: “It makes you wonder why I didn’t pick him last year! He galloped and jumped and he’s just really really good. I got into a lovely rhythm on him again and it was straight forward.“
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