Townend's sole ride in Roscommon a winning one

Paul Townend's journey to Roscommon for one ride paid off as Punters Poet wrote a winning chapter in the Boyle Handicap Hurdle.

He sent the 4/1 shot after Call The Fairies once the second last was negotiated. Townend rousted his mount into action on the run-in and they soon got the measure of the leader.

The winner was driven out to score by a length and three quarters. Runner-up Call The Fairies was a 7/1 chance and was six and a half lengths clear of Stealthy Tom (11/2).

Townend said: “He's trained by a very good trainer and I knew the journey would be worth it if Matthew (Smith) wanted me to come up.

“He's a little bit of a monkey I suppose. He travels really well but doesn't always find a lot so I was trying to get a lead as long as I could.

“When James (O'Sullivan, on Presenting Lad fell I was kind of left on my own so I had to follow JJ (Slevin on Call The Fairies).

“In fairness I'm probably being a bit hard on him because he did pull out plenty when I wanted him to.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson