A look at the best jockeys riding at the Cheltenham Festival

It’s that time of year again — the Cheltenham Festival is back. Four days of action at Prestbury Park serve as some of the most important dates on the horse racing calendar, as some of the best in the business attempt to write their name in the history books.

This year there are plenty of big races to look forward to, with the Champion Chase, Stayers Hurdle and Gold Cup all looking close calls in terms of favourites.

At the Cheltenham Festival, the world’s finest jump horses compete for fame, fortune, and glory. However, even the best horses cannot win without the skill and guidance of their jockeys. Jockeys are the unsung heroes of horse racing, who use their expertise, experience, and intuition to navigate the twists and turns of the course and cross the finish line first. At the Cheltenham Festival, jockeys play a vital role in determining the outcome of some of the most prestigious races in the world.

There are several contenders for the Leading Jockey award at Cheltenham this year, but who stands out above the rest? Read on, as we look at the best jockeys competing at this year’s Festival as well as their key races.

Rachael Blackmore

Rachael Blackmore made history last year when she became the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup. Previously a Grand National winner, the Irish jockey is in inspired form and those assessing the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting odds will see that A Plus Tard is one of the favourites for the race, hoping to make it successive wins for Henry de Bromhead, joined by the likes of Minella Indo and Noble Yeats. Blackmore also picked up consecutive victories aboard Honeysuckle and the “Queen of the Cotswolds” will be hoping to cement her legacy in the Cheltenham history books with a Leading Jockey award to add to the trophy cabinet if she can build on the six winners last year.

Paul Townend

Last year’s top jockey, Paul Townend has been responsible for plenty of big moments over the years at the Cheltenham Festival. His great recovery aboard Allegorie De Vassy during a race at Thurles back in January earnt him plenty of plaudits and he heads to Prestbury Park full of confidence and riding Facile Vega and El Fabiolo on the first day could mean he pulls ahead of the rest of the competition in the bid for Leading Jockey. Having picked up five wins last year you wouldn’t put it past him to improve on that tally as the week goes on.

Nico de Boinville

One of the key players in Nicky Henderson’s Cheltenham plans is Nico de Boinville. Having come close to previously leaving his stable, De Boinville is now perhaps the jewel in the Seven Barrows crown, and with 72 winners to his name, he is one of the most experienced jockeys around. With the likes of Constitution Hill and Epatante, De Boinville has plenty of talent at his disposal and after big wins at Doncaster and Meadowsuite, he’ll want to carry that good form into Prestbury Park.