The Cheltenham Festival top jockey betting market provides punters with another interesting sub-plot to keep them interested over the four-days of top-notch National Hunt action – but which jockey is favourite to ride the most winners at the 2023 meeting?
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Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Market Always Attracts Plenty of Interest
Away from having a bet on the races at Prestbury Park, another way to get involved is to have a wager in the 2023 Cheltenham Festival top jockey market, which should give you a horse to cheer on in most of the 28 races.
With many bookmakers offering an in-play market here too, then the Cheltenham Festival top jockey odds will chop and change after every race, but punters can keep an eye on the pilot leading the way as he (or she) will be wearing the ‘top jockey’ armband.
In recent years, Ruby Walsh had dominated this competition – ridding the most winners over the four days a staggering eleven times since 2004 before retiring and letting someone else ‘have a go’!
However, with Walsh now a pundit for ITV racing this has opened the door for some new names to throw their hats into the ‘Cheltenham Top Jockey’ ring and since 2018 we’ve now had four different jockeys ride the most Festival winners – Davy Russell, Nico de Boinville, Paul Townend and Rachael Blackmore.
But, who is likely to be crowned the 2023 Cheltenham Festival top jockey this year?
Paul Townend Expected to Dominate 2023 Cheltenham Festival
With Paul Townend having taken over from Ruby Walsh as the Willie Mullins stable jockey, then it’s no real shocker that he’s managed to land the Cheltenham top jockey title twice in the last three seasons – including last year when he fired in 5 wins to take the prize.
Townend also rode 5 winners in 2020 when winning his first Festival top jockeys award and with most of the big Willie Mullins Cheltenham runners, including the current Champion Chase and Gold Cup market leaders Engerumene and Galopin Des Champs, at his disposal the bookmakers are taking no chances having installed Townend in at Cheltenham odds of 1/3 with BetUK to ride the most winners again.
Paul Townend 2023 Cheltenham Festival Main Rides
Tuesday 14th March 2023
- Facile Vega (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle)
- Dysart Dynamo (Arkle Chase)
- State Man (Champion Hurdle)
Wednesday 15th March 2023
- Sir Gerhard (Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase)
- Energumene (Champion Chase)
Thursday 16th March 2023
- Appreciate It (Turners Novices’ Chase)
Friday 17th March 2023
- Lossiemouth (Triumph Hurdle)
- Gaelic Warrior (County Hurdle)
- Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup)
- Allegorie De Vassy (Mares Chase)
RELATED: 2023 Cheltenham Festival Bankers | Best Backed Horses For Your Festival Accas
Rachael Blackmore Was Top Cheltenham Festival Jockey In 2021
Rachael Blackmore had a season to remember in 2021, when becoming the first lady jumps rider to be crowned the Cheltenham Festival top jockey winner – she rode 6 winners that year that included Honeysuckle to win the Champion Hurdle.
Blackmore also went onto win the 2021 Grand National that season too, when steering home Minella Times in the famous steeplechase at Aintree.
She’s now cemented herself as a punters favourite at the Cheltenham Festival and despite having to give up her ‘top jock’ title to Paul Townend last season, she still fired in three winners – one of which was the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard.
Blackmore will get the pick of the Henry De Bromhead ride again and is sure to also get plenty of spares along the way. Honeysuckle, who goes in the Mares Hurdle on the opening day, will be one of her biggest chances, but you feel Balckmore hasn’t quite got the firepower this year, which is reflected in her 2023 Cheltenham Festival top jockey odds of 16/1
Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey – Best Of The Rest
Next best in the betting sees Nico De Boinville, who was top jockey in 2019. He will ride all the big Nicky Henderson runners and it will be a shock if he’s not getting at least one winner – seeing as he rides the red-hot Champion Hurdle favourite Consitution Hill.
Davy Russell is the general second favourite – the veteran jockey recently came out of retirement to cover the injured Jack Kennedy and with JK touch and go to make the Festival, Russell will have the pick of the Gordon Elliott Cheltenham Festival runners.
Danny Mullins will have a bit of interest too, having ridden three winners at the recent Dublin Racing Festival and he’ll be picking up any spare rides for his uncle Willie.
Away from Paul Townend, if a jockey not mentioned on this page wins title, it will be a bigger shock than Constitution Hill losing the Champion Hurdle!
2023 Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Betting Odds with BetUK
- Paul Townend 1/3
- Nico De Boinville 7/1
- Davy Russell 8/1
- Danny Mullins 8/1
- Rachael Blackmore 14/1
Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request
What Happens If the Festival Top Jockey Is Tied?
If two (or more jockeys) ride the same amount of Cheltenham Festival winners over the 28 races then it will go on the best number of seconds, then thirds, fourth and so on till there is a winner. Therefore, even a second or third placed finish for these top jockeys can be crucial.
RELATED: 2023 Cheltenham Festival Race Times and Full Running Order
Recent Cheltenham Festival ‘Top Jockey’ Hall of Fame
- 2022: Paul Townend (5)
- 2021: Rachael Blackmore (6)
- 2020: Paul Townend (5)
- 2019: Nico de Boinville (3)
- 2018: Davy Russell (4)
- 2017: Ruby Walsh (4)
- 2016: Ruby Walsh (7)
- 2015: Ruby Walsh (4)
- 2014: Ruby Walsh (3)
- 2013: Ruby Walsh (4)
Leading Current Jockeys At The Cheltenham Festival
- Davy Russell (22)
- Paul Townend (22)
- Nico de Boinville (15)
- Rachael Blackmore (12)
- Mr Jamie Codd (10)
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