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… Why Paul Townend doesn’t take rides for other stables?
I see he’s at Tramore for just the one mount today, on a WPM hotpot in a maiden hurdle. Surely other yards should be tripping over themselves to try to secure the services of such a top-class rider and all-round good egg (I can honestly say that I cannot think of anyone in racing today with whom I would rather go out for a pint than Paul: he’s articulate, intelligent and with a wry sense of humour).
Is it by choice that Townend doesn’t take rides for other stables?
Has to be for fear of injury and missing out on the big rides? / complete loyality, he was doing this while he was #2 to ruby
Hes the best jumps jockey riding imo, has been for a while…
I don’t know but to speculate:
Does he need to take outside rides? He doesn’t need the money and he does not need to get his name known and establish contacts. He already has the best job in Irish racing. Why risk your neck in a Beginners Chase in Tramore if it is not necessary?
He is 34 now. With no sign of the Mullins dominance ending any time soon, perhaps he is looking to continue riding at the top level for the best part of a decade? The job guarantees Grade 1 and Cheltenham Festival winners.
Maybe Mullins has asked him not to take outside rides. Mullins comes across in interviews as a genial fellow but there is no doubt he is fiercely competitive. Does he want his stable jockey helping out other trainers?
Not sure about the ride being a hot pot
second fav now in places and factoring in the Mullins/Townend combination you can knock off a bit more
Did Ruby ride for many other trainers?Blackbeard to conquer the World
Exactly CAS, why would you risk his book of rides at the DRF or cheltenham for a beginners chase out in the arse end of the country if its not a mullins horse, he can completely dominate racing if he just focuses on the mullins machine which imo if it was me, id be doing the same, no need to be going somewhere else to ride out in the mornings either
Ruby did ride for other trainers in Ireland in his younger days (although he was riding for Nicholls then so not sure if he was retained by Mullins in Ireland). Even though Mullins had some star horses back then, not the firepower he has now. I think when he finished at Nicholls’ and went back to Ireland full time, it was quite rare for Ruby to ride for other stables. Maybe the odd Tony Martin horse etc.
I can only think this was to prolong his career, as he had a few horror falls throughout it. If you watch ITV Racing when he’s on I’m sure one of his legs isn’t quite straight and can only think this is because of his bad fall in around 2010 when he missed most of the season.
Tony Martin was in my head Homer..
I think Ruby rode for Ted Walsh too but can’t remember too many outside ridesBlackbeard to conquer the World
I also thought Mr. Townend would ride for Mullins only, but check this out:
https://www.racingpost.com/profile/jockey/86502/paul-townend/stats
He seems to have had quite a number of rides with the likes of Edward O’Grady, Terence O’Brien or even Philip Rothwell, but I guess this was early in his career.
In the past 2-3 seasons he’s only had a few rides for trainers like Thomas Mullins or Declan Queally etc. And I guess that would amount to around 3-4% of his total rides in recent years.
One thing I noticed at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, is that Paul did not have a ride in some handicaps hurdles or chases where Willie had a runner. That to me, said Willie didnt fancy any of his, but Paul still didn’t pick up an outside ride. Obviously best to stay fit..rather than land on a fence.
He rides Banbridge for Joseph O’Brien in the Fortria at Navan tomorrow. Quite a positive jockey booking.
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