Mullins & Townend get first wins of new season Twenty-times Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins and seven-time champion jockey Paul Townend each got off the mark for the new season today, landing Downpatrick’s opening Randox Maiden Hurdle with Roc Dino (1/8f). Saturday’s season-finale at the Punchestown festival saw Mullins collect his 18th consecutive title with 194 winners, 63 shy of his best tally from 2023/’24, and today his 125-rated Roc Dino won in a canter to roll the ball forward for 2026/’27. Townend, who missed out to Jack Kennedy last term but amazingly won all the biggest races, reported “Roc Dino was in calmer waters today, it was straightforward, he handled the track well enough and handled the ground nicely. "He was entitled to probably do it on some of his form. At that level, it was the simplest thing to do go out in front, he had the experience so I just kept it straightforward. "He travelled really strongly for Johnny Shinnick the last day for a long way and probably just didn't get home on that occasion but that was a stiffer race than today. He has his mark and he'll be a fun horse." Quotes from Michael Graham
