Double for Lisgoold jockey Paul Townend in Clonmel

LISGOOLD jockey Paul Townend recorded a double in the twin features at Clonmel on their marquee card of the season.

He landed the featured €60k Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase on the dual Ryanair Chase winner Allaho. The Cheveley Park Stud nine-year-old had been off the track for 561 days, since his spectacular victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup in 2022.

With French Dynamite a late nonrunner, Allaho had only two rivals to beat and was backed on course from 4/11 to 1/4. Paul Townend had no qualms about his fitness and made all the running to beat stable companion Janadil by nine lengths.

The winner had been sidelined due to a bleed on his spleen. Initially, it was feared he had colic until the spleen issue surfaced. 

Allaho will again target the Ryanair Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham festival. You'd imagine races like the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown might figure on his radar in the short term. He is top-priced 7/1 for the Boxing Day feature at Kempton - the King George Chase. His odds for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham next March shortened to 7/2.

He's won this race twice in 2020 and 2021. Allaho has a formidable record at County Tipperary tracks and is unbeaten in four starts at Clonmel and Thurles.

Paul Townend said afterward: "It's great to see the engine is still there."

The victory completed a double on the card for Townend.

He had won earlier on the smart Rich Ricci mare, Allegorie De Vassy. She made a successful seasonal reappearance in the Listed TA Morris Memorial IrishEBF Mares Chase, again for trainer Willie Mullins.

She was well supported from 5/4 to 8/11 and gave her supporters an early scare. She hit the first fence hard and threw in a few careful jumps. But she gradually warmed to her task and ultimately reeled in her stable companion Instit who'd attempted to make all the running. 

At the line, Allegorie De Vassy had two and a quarter lengths to spare over her old adversary who'd finished ahead of her on her final two starts last season. Paul was thrilled to see her start the new campaign well given she ended last season under something of a cloud.

"She was beaten by a very good mare in Cheltenham and that probably left a mark for the rest of the season. 

She's back now and we're delighted with her."

Allegorie De Vassy is now top-priced at 7/2 for the 2024 Mares Chase at Cheltenham. She finished second in last year's race to Impervious. The latter is currently sidelined with a joint injury and not certain to return until the second half of the season. She's currently recuperating at her owner JP McManus's Martinstown Stud.

Gordon Elliot had a treble on the card with Josh Williamson completing the treble in the bumper for the Cullentra yard on Rainbow Train.