Jody Townend keeps up family tradition with first Festival winner

There was a first winner at the Festival for Jody Townend when enjoyed a record-extending 14th victory in the Weatherbys Champion with Bambino Fever.

Watchers of the Festival are well accustomed to seeing a Townend return to the Prestbury Park winner’s enclosure aboard a fancied member of the Closutton string, but this time Paul Townend had to give way to his younger sister, who maintained her fruitful association with the five-year-old mare.

Townend had steered Bambino Fever to an impressive victory at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival and retained the ride as Patrick Mullins elected to ride stablemate Copacabana (he would not have been able to do the weight on Bambino Fever) and her brother was on imperious Punchestown scorer Gameofinches.

Subject to plenty of support throughout Wednesday, Bambino Fever was sent off at 4-1 and was always ideally poised under her jockey, showing plenty of speed in the closing stages to hold off a host of rivals who chased her to no avail up the famous Cheltenham hill.

John McConnell’s Heads Up picked up second at 33-1, with Thomas Cooper’s Shuttle Diplomacy an even bigger price in third at 66-1, as Bambino Fever became the first mare since Relegate in 2018 to win the Champion Bumper and Townend joining the likes of Katie Walsh and Rachael Blackmore as female jockeys to win the closing race on day two.

Townend said: "I'm beyond cloud nine, I can't believe it and it will take some time to sink in.

"I was in front plenty soon enough on her and I was looking up at the big screen thinking 'please don't come up the inner' so it was a big relief when I got to the line.

"I got a perfect position and I couldn't believe it when I jumped off and got where I wanted to be, it normally doesn't happen in that race. She always keeps trying and has a heart of gold and this is a special place for me now anyway.

"I've been dreaming of this since I was a child and have grown up watching Paul ride winners round here, but it's my turn to be happy now."

Mullins said: "She had two runs and was very good both times and everyone was very keen to leave Jody on her, which was a great decision.

"She gave her a fabulous ride, she was in the right position at all stages and has a clock in her head. I didn't say anything to her, I always leave her to ride her own races.

"Patrick couldn't do the weight so was always going to ride Copacabana and connections were always happy to have Jody.

"I'm delighted for Jody. Tim Townend her father was here and of course Paul, her brother was.

"She's been a surprise package, but is now unbeaten in three runs."