2026 Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Odds: Townend Not Favourite For Title!
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The 2026 Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner. Of course, the horses will be the stars of the show, but UK betting sites have a range of additional markets available for the Festival. One such market is for Cheltenham Top Jockey. Paul Townend has landed the honour each of the last four years and will be the firm favourite to do it again. Let's take a look at some of the contenders who'll be looking to dethrone him this year.
2026 Cheltenham Festival Leading Jockey Odds
| Jockey | Odds | Bet With |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Walsh | 1/1 | BetVictor |
| Paul Townend | 6/5 | Coral |
| Harry Skelton | 9/1 | Betfred |
| Jack Kennedy | 16/1 | William Hill |
| Nico de Boinville | 20/1 | BetVictor |
| Danny Mullins | ||
| Harry Cobden | 40/1 | bet365 |
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Paul Townend
Let’s start with the obvious. Paul Townend is once again the strong favourite with horse racing betting apps to win another leading jockey title, though not as short as he might have been in previous years. Townend’s position as number one rider for the all-conquering Willie Mullins has resulted in him recording 38 Cheltenham Festival winners to date.
Townend has another top-quality book of rides this season, though who he rides in the Gold Cup after Galopin Des Champs lost last year and then again in the Irish Gold Cup this year will be of great interest. Whatever happens, it promises to be another successful week for the 35-year-old Irishman.
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Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy has already amassed 12 Cheltenham Festival winners, with the highlight being Minella Indo in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He's stable jockey for Gordon Elliott, who perhaps lacks the true Grade 1 firepower the Willie Mullins' yard has, but he comes to the Festival as second favourite to be the leading trainer.
Kennedy is sure to have his pick of the Elliott string in the handicaps, and it wouldn't be a surprise if it was he who benefitted most if it turns out to be a down week for Paul Townend.
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Nico de Boinville
Leading British rider, Nico de Boinville, is Nicky Henderson’s number one jockey, and he has been associated with some of the greatest equine talents ever to grace the Cheltenham Festival. 2026 is no different, and he has another solid-looking book of rides.
Constitution Hill will not be one of them, sadly, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he can outgun Paul Townend to record his second leading jockey award. He's a dark horse worth considering on UK betting apps.
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Mark Walsh
Mark Walsh will have plenty of plumb horses to ride throughout the Festival, being the number one jockey for all-powerful owner JP McManus. Walsh is due to be replaced by Harry Cobden in May, so this could be one last hurrah for the 39-year-old. He has 13 winners at the Festival to date, including on board last year's Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin. His rides could certainly be worth following.
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Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Tips
There's no getting away from the fact that Willie Mullins holds all the aces at the Cheltenham Festival. It would be a major shock if he didn't send out at least six or seven winners. As such, Paul Townend is a deserving and obvious favourite. The value might be lurking elsewhere in the Mullins team, though.
Danny Mullins will also have plenty of chances throughout the Festival. He'll be riding some of the second or third string horses for the yard in big races and could make his top jockey odds at horse racing betting sites look awfully big come the Festival.
Tipped before the Festival at 100/1.
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