06 February 2023 , 14:25
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Willie Mullins raised a few eyebrows by criticising Paul Townend in the aftermath of high-profile defeats.
The trainer shared his strong opinions about his number one jockey's rides on two odds on shots at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Facile Vega and Lossiemouth had their Cheltenham Festival profiles dented by their shock losses. Both had been hot favourites for the March meeting before they were overturned at short prices.
The first-named horse went out to 5-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after he trailed in last in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle. Victory went to Il Etait Temps, one of several big winners for Mullins' nephew Danny – on the receiving end of praise from the trainer over the big weekend.
Townend reported Facile Vega stopped quickly after heset a strong pace in the two-mile contest. And Closutton trainer Mullins did not hold back in his post-race assessment, for the second time at Leopardstown's huge jumps fixture.
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"They were just going too fast, everyone could see they were going too fast. Paul (Townend) will have to ride him like a racehorse in the future, today he rode him like a machine," he said.
On Saturday, Mullins felt Townend had asked too much of JCB Triumph Hurdle market leader Lossiemouth when she was beaten by another of the stable's horses, Gala Marceau.
Facile Vega's odds for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival have drifted right out (Getty)"I just hope it doesn’t leave its mark that she had such a hard run from the third last home," he said.
"She put in a huge effort for a juvenile filly and that might just leave a mark. That’s what I’m really worried about and I would have been happier if Paul had maybe just been hands and heels. The writing was on the wall, so what was the point in hitting her?"
Danny Mullins was aboard the 9-2 winner of the race and he grew his Grade 1 tally at the event to three. His mount Gentleman De Mee surprised Townend's 1-4 favourite Blue Lord in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase.
Mullins senior said: "Danny is fantastic as a second jockey. He has ridden three Grade 1 winners now this weekend and that is a lifetime achievement for a lot of people. Danny is able to read situations in a race and play to it."
The other leading hope from the Mullins set-up not to match pre-race market expectations was Appreciate It, who finished third in the Arkle trial.
Punters were quick to notice the tone from Mullins senior, who still enjoyed a record Dublin Racing Festival headlined by a 1,739-1 five-timer on Sunday. He secured six of the eight top level prizes – and Galopin Des Champs enhanced his Cheltenham Gold Cup claims.
Galopin Des Champs on his way to winning the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup with Paul Townend in the saddle (PA)One person wrote on social media: "Rare to hear Willie Mullins publicly criticise a jockey that's now twice in two days he's expressed dissatisfaction at a Paul Townend ride. Meanwhile Danny Mullins continues to impress......"
A second Twitter user posted: "One of the most interesting things to come out of the #DublinRacingFestival has been Willie Mullins' public criticism of Paul Townend for his Lossiemouth and Facile Vega rides."
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And a third added: "Willie Mullins and Paul Townend are NOT on the same page recently."