Having never sat on a horse a day in my life, I cannont argue the point that Townend made either way and given how many horses he has ridden only other jockeys could answer as to whether he is telling the truth or not but I have also seen and heard jockeys pull horses up with a comment that ‘the horse wasn’t moving right behind’ or ‘something felt off in their action’ so jockeys can clearly tell when all is not well 
But regardless of what he may or may not have felt on top of the horse after the incident, it was clear from the outside looking in that the horse wasn’t moving correct behind and that is something that can’t be unseen no matter how you try to argue it.