Impaire Et Passe Shines in Townend & Mullins' Dominant Day at Gowran
A remarkable performance by Impaire Et Passe stole the show at Gowran, as jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins secured an impressive four-win haul on Saturday, February 14, 2026. This headline-grabbing feat included a feature race victory in the prestigious Red Mills Chase.
Townend's success on Impaire Et Passe was particularly noteworthy, as the Grand National entrant had recently been in the spotlight for a gallop with stablemate Kopek Des Bordes, where he didn't come out on top. But here's where it gets controversial: despite this, he showcased his class by coming from behind to win with a stylish performance, justifying his 4-9 favoritism by a length and a quarter from Sa Fureur.
Townend's post-race comments revealed his confidence in the horse's ability: "It was a tactical race, and I just had to wait for the right moment. Despite being in a tricky position, I knew I had the best horse." He continued, "His class was evident at the second-last, and with five Grade One wins, his talent is undeniable."
The dynamic duo of Townend and Mullins also triumphed in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle with Strong Heart, the 11-10 favorite. This lightly raced horse, who had a successful juvenile season, showed resilience by overcoming a late challenge to win by a length and a half.
Townend shared his thoughts: "It was a tough race, and I wasn't sure how well I was doing until the end. But when I pushed him, he responded brilliantly and cleared the last hurdle when it mattered."
The Mullins-Townend partnership continued their winning streak with Madness d'Elle in the Sea Moon & Silverwave At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle, and King Alexander dominated the QuinnBet Beginners Chase. And this is the part most people miss: the day's achievements also included a win for Gordon Elliott's Lord Rouge in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle, where stable favorite Bally Free underperformed.
Elliott's stable representative, Lisa O'Neill, commented on Lord Rouge's win: "He showed great determination and a good attitude. While he still has some racing skills to refine, it's encouraging to see his improvement after a disappointing run at Naas."
The day also marked a special moment for Norman Williamson's son, Josh, who claimed his first professional win on Grimaud in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series qualifier. An emotional Williamson expressed his joy: "I've been eagerly awaiting this moment for weeks. I'm grateful it happened today, and I'm thrilled to build on my amateur success."
But the question remains: can Townend and Mullins continue this dominant form, or will other trainers and jockeys rise to challenge their supremacy?
