Just watched the replay, nothing exceptional about Townend’s ride. He rode the middle of the track, but followed a couple of local riders in doing so. Anyone who watches racing at Auteuil on a regular basis know that riders frequently come down the middle of the back straight or towards the outside rail (similar to Fontwell).
In the last 250 yards, he failed to keep his horse on a straight line and nearly (maybe he did) impeded the 2nd pushing the horse towards the left. He failed to switch his whip to his left hand to keep his horse straight, just kept hitting right-handed and moving left. Fortunately, Auteuil has a very wide straight, but it got a bit tight as they went away from the bushes along the inside before it opened up in the last 150 yards or so. True, the 2nd didn’t have to stop riding, but Townend definitely took his ground by moving left. I suppose if you can get away with it, do so, but after what happen in last year French 2000 Guineas, I wouldn’t take too many liberties.
Look, it was a Mullins horse, usually the best horse in the race. Mullins would not be a dominant in France, but would win his share. The French want him to send horses over, so the scrutiny would not be as great; and the second was not from a top yard, so….
For me, Townend is a capable rider and this ride was sufficient to get the prize. Without the support of Mullins, he would be just another journeyman rider.