Willie Mullins has given an update on Paul Townend, who picked up an injury after falling from Agusta Gold in the race won by Politesse at the Galway Races this afternoon.
The 31-year old jockey suffered a nasty fall after being unseated by Agusta Gold at the first fence during the Eileen Kelly Memorial Race. Townend landed awkwardly in the fall, and appeared to hurt his thumb when he hit the deck.
Townend has suffered injuries to his shoulders and ankles in the past, and will be hoping to shake off this injury and not have to spend time on the sidelines.
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Mullins said: “It looks like he might have dislocated his thumb. He’s going to get it X-rayed and scanned on Tuesday morning.
“We are just holding our breath that he’ll recover quickly and it might be just badly bruised.”
It's a disappointing end to a week that started so promisingly for the two time Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner after victories on board Champ Kiely and Rock Road earlier in the week.
For Mullins however, the week ended on a positive note when the Patrick Mullins-ridden No Risk No Fun led a stable one-two in the Fr. Breen Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, the even-money favourite beating Spread Boss Ted by two and three-quarter lengths.
Mullins said: “He’s a nice horse and could be a graded horse. He does it nicely on the racetrack.
“The second horse stayed with him all the way up the straight. The winner just had too many gears for him, but the second looks a real chaser in the making.
“The winner looks a hurdler rather than a chaser. We’ll look at whether we go for a third bumper or give him a little break and then go hurdling.”
The legendary trainer also reflected on a brilliant week of racing in Ballybrit, the first with capacity crowds since 2019.
“It’s been a fantastic week. All my neighbours had plenty of winners as well as ourselves. Emmet and the Shark (John Hanlon) had a good week and there was a great spread of winners throughout the week.
“The win of Echoes In Rain in the Connacht Hotel Amateur Handicap (on Monday night) would have to be the highlight and it was a race that Patrick long wanted to win.
“It’s great that the crowds are back and the craic and atmosphere is back in Galway.”
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