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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Townend back with a winner

Sat 10th Mar 2018, 13:47

Saglawy wins easily under Paul TownendSaglawy wins easily under Paul Townend
© Photo Healy Racing

Paul Townend made a winning return to action following over a month on the sidelines as Saglawy justified odds-on favouritism in the opening Kilkenny Hunt Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park.

The former champion jockey injured his ankle when Killultagh Vic fell at the last in the Unibet Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown and this was a timely return on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival.

The 2/5 favourite cruised past the front-running Warnaq at the penultimate flight, and Townend could afford to take things very easily on the run-in.

Third on his Irish debut at Thurles earlier this year, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding readily beat Icario by 15 lengths with Warnaq weakening to finish a further 25 lengths away in third.

Townend said, "He's a grand one to come back on as it was straight-forward. The form is working out from his first run and he improved from it, hurdling wise and everything else.

“Gordon's horse was rated 123 but I'm not sure what strength in depth was in the race. He could do no more than win I suppose and I was happy with him. He's improving and we'll see where he goes from here.

“He handled the ground better than we probably expected. It's very wet which is a help — it's sloppy.”

(GC & AM)

1st
2/5Fav
Tote €1.30 €1.02
2nd
15L
3/1
€1.10
3rd
25L
12/1
€1.90
4th
8.5L
33/1
About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.