Christmas comes early for Townend Jockey Paul Townend resumed winning ways with Willie Mullins today, as yesterday’s big-race Down Royal hero landed Cork’s Listed Paddy Power "How Many Days 'Til Christmas?" Irish EBF Novice Hurdle on Roc Dino (5/4f). Mullins’ retained seven-time champion jockey took a rare outside Grade 1-ride in yesterday's Betvictor Champion Chase, when bagging the season's first top-level race on trainer Rebecca Curtis’ Haiti Couleurs . Today, Townend was always in touch on the Hollywood Racing & Barnane Stud-owned Roc Dino who ran out an easy eight lengths winner from Theflyingking . Townend reported “he had nice runs behind Mighty Park and El Cairos last season and is putting it together now. He has got confidence from winning and today’s (three miles) trip was no problem to him, and maybe even improved him. “Once he settled, I thought he would get this distance and he is a lovely slick jumper. You can put him where you like in races and he is a good fun horse who is progressing away nicely. “He is versatile but being able to get three miles opens up options now. Hopefully he’ll keep improving because he’ll have to.”
