Paul Townend says he'd love a Perth jolly after a day of Fun Fun Fun as Irish jockey hero soaks up Scone Palace success
High-flying Paul Townend reckons he'd fancy a jolly at Perth after a day of Fun Fun Fun in the Scottish town. Willie Mullins' No.1 stable jockey savoured a flawless afternoon at Scone Palace Park with two wins from two rides to boost his gaffer's UK trainers title bid in the scrap with Dan Skelton. Townend won Wednesday's two biggest prizes for the Closutton yard aboard 5/1 shot Kiss Will and 4/7 favourite Fun Fun Fun. The Irish horse racing ace was all smiles afterwards as he soaked up the first day of Perth's three-day meeting and said: 'It's a brilliant place to come. Pity we have to do a bit of work when we come here. I'd love to come here on a bit of a jolly sometime! 'I'd say it'd be good fun! A great atmosphere, lovely weather and they've done an incredible job with the ground. Credit to them. You couldn't give them enough plaudits for that. It's beautiful.' Kiss Will defeated a strong field to win the three-mile novice hurdle and, although Skelton got second in the race with Royal Infantry, Mullins also had the fourth with You Oughta Know to collect more prize money. Townend duly completed his double in the three-mile mares' chase on Fun Fun Fun and Mullins also had the second with Paggane to move just over £11,000 at that stage behind in the trainer bid. The pilot's selection of Kiss Will was telling and he explained: 'I won a maiden on him earlier in the year and I can't figure out what happened to him in Cheltenham . 'Maybe he needed another run going there or something. I don't know, but it was too bad to be true. "But he travelled really well throughout the race. The trip was an unknown, but he coped with it no problem. I hope he can have a bright future. 'That was the only blip on the biggest day, but it was good to get him back. Big field and depth in it as well, but he went through the race really nicely and I hope he can build on that.' On the Fun Fun Fun success, he added: 'I suppose she made harder work of it than I was kind of hoping. The race in Limerick the last day, she bounced out and attacked everywhere and was really forward. 'She relaxed. Maybe it's just runs that are steadying her up. But there was plenty in the locker when I needed it. She's done an important job.' Skelton hit straight back in the trainers battle after Mullins double when 11/4 chance Etalon won the two-mile handicap chase and over £8,000 to re-extend his title lead. But, speaking on Racing TV, Townend said he'd just concentrate on horses and not calculators as he laughed: 'I'll leave someone else to figure the maths out. I'll try and keep my job!'
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