Leading Irish rider Paul Townend suffered a nasty fall at Fairyhouse on board Egality Mans in the Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle, coming down at the third last when in contention to go close, but unfortunately the fall had a lasting effect and Townend was sent to hospital for X-rays on his foot.
The Irishman has had a superb season to date in both England and Ireland and was looking to top it off at Aintree this weekend, with him set to ride Burrows Saint in the feature, but now that is up in the air.
He was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital for precautionary X-rays and missed his mounts on Irish National day, which would have seen him in the winners enclosure with either Stormy Ireland or Easy Game.
🚀 Easy as you like
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 4, 2021
Echoes In Rain shows her rivals a clean pair of heels to record an effortless success in this Grade Two event under @PTownend to lead home a @WillieMullinsNH 1-2 at @Fairyhouse
Results & free replays ➡ https://t.co/sBcsavHpYf pic.twitter.com/8IHWW9g83U
It is now a race against time for him to be fit to even head over to England at all with more news to follow in the coming days as to the extent of the injury to Paul Townend.
(Credit ATR) Mullins said yesterday: “He’s going to have another visit with his doctor during the week.
“We’ll take it bit by bit and see how he goes before we make any further decisions. That’s where we are.”
Another key thing that this injury could impact is the Irish jockeys championship with him starting the week 10 winners clear (95-85) of Rachael Blackmore in defence of his title, with the championship set to conclude with the final day of the Punchestown Festival on May 1st.