Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey - A Look At The Contenders

The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of National Hunt racing and it brings together the cream of the crop from Britain and Ireland for a wonderful series of championship races in the Cotswolds.

Being the top jockey at Cheltenham is the ultimate accolade for any jumps rider.

What Is The Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey?

The Cheltenham Festival is the ultimate destination in terms of gravitas for National Hunt horses and their connections. Getting a winner here means that bit more for all concerned.

Across four days there are 28 races at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and the accolade of Top Jockey goes to the person with most wins over four days, with a countback system based on second and third-place finishes used to split riders in the event of a tie on overall wins.

The Top Jockey at Cheltenham receives the Ruby Walsh Trophy, named after the most successful rider in festival history with a stunning 59 wins.

Paul Townend

Paul Townend succeeded Walsh as stable jockey for top trainer Willie Mullins and has been leading rider at Cheltenham on five occasions, including every year since 2022. He has ridden 38 Festival winners, more than any other active jockey.

Townend has a brilliant book of rides for 2026, including leading Arkle contender Kopek Des Bordes and Champion Hurdle hopeful Lossiemouth. With the arsenal at Mullins’ disposal, no rider will have more leading chances and the mare Bambino Fever is one of the hottest favourites of the week in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle.

All eyes will be on Townend come the Gold Cup, where two-time winner Galopin Des Champs attempts to regain the crown and it will be a significant moment should Townend elect to ride anything else in the Blue Riband.

Mark Walsh

Mark Walsh has been retained rider for top owner JP McManus for the last number of years, a role he will leave at the end of this season. He has been in blistering form lately and counts Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Majborough, leading Supreme Novices’ contender Mighty Park and festival scorer Fact To File amongst a barrage of chances.

Dinoblue goes for successive wins in the Mares’ Chase and Walsh is a key man to look out for in the famous green and gold hoops in what looks a strong team for McManus, the owner with more Festival wins than any other, including Inothewayurthinkin in the defence of the Gold Cup.

Jack Kennedy

Jack Kennedy won the Cheltenham Gold Cup aged 21 as Minella Indo scored in 2021, ensuring he is the youngest jockey in the modern era to win the most coveted race in the Cotswolds.

Kennedy has a dozen Festival winners at Cheltenham and this season looks set to be Irish champion jockey for a second time.

He is retained rider for top trainer Gordon Elliott and can look forward to riding the likes of El Cairos in the Supreme Novice’ Hurdle, Romeo Coolio in the Arkle, Brighterdaysahead in the Champion Hurdle, Teahupoo in the Stayers’ Hurdle and festival scorer Wodhooh in the Mares’ Hurdle amongst his best hopes.

Harry Skelton

Harry Skelton is the main rider for his brother and soon-to-be champion trainer in Britain, Dan. A former champion jockey in Britain, Harry has ridden 10 Festival winners at Cheltenham.

The most recent was The New Lion as a Grade 1 novice scorer last year and they are favourites now to win the Champion Hurdle on day one of the 2026 showpiece.

The Skelton boys are having their best-ever season and they also have L’eau Du Sud in the Champion Chase and Grey Dawning in the Gold Cup to relish.

Nico de Boinville

Stable jockey to Nicky Henderson at his Seven Barrows base, Nico de Boinville has 17 Cheltenham Festival wins on his CV, second only to Townend amongst the active riders list. He has a Gold Cup, a Champion Hurdle and two Queen Mother Champion Chases on his record and was leading rider here in 2019.

He’ll be looking for a very quick start with Old Park Star heading the betting for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Lulamba favourite for the Arkle – the first two races on day one.

Any Other Jockeys

Harry Cobden is set to take over as JP McManus’ main rider after this season and could pick up some spares in the green and gold here, while he is currently Paul Nicholls’ main pilot and has No Drama This End to look forward to in the Turners for Team Ditcheat.

Danny Mullins is part of the team for his uncle, Willie, and gets plenty of opportunities, while his cousin Patrick Mullins has ridden more winners than any amateur rider at the meeting.

Keith Donoghue is renowned in the Cross Country contest and a very good rider, while Ben Jones rides King George winner The Jukebox Man in the Gold Cup and joins top pilots like Sam Twiston-Davies in the pursuit of festival glory.

Previous Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Winners

Paul Townend has dominated recently, while there was a piece of sporting history in 2021 as Rachael Blackmore won six races and became the first female to win the top jockey award. The Queen of the Cotswolds retired last May, having won 18 races at this meeting.