See the Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival rides today on Tuesday 10th March where he gets the leg up on three horses for Willie Mullins…
Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Rides Today – Tuesday 10th March
Seven-time Irish Champion Jockey will have three rides on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival where his best chance looks to be Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:20pm): LEADER D’ALLIER @ 14/1
The Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser is a race that Townend has won twice over the years. He rides Leader d’Allier this year who wouldn’t appear to have an obvious chance.
This French import scored five times in bumpers when trained by Mathieu Pitart and was beaten on Irish debut. However, on his second start for Willie Mullins back in January he made up for it when asserting to a nine length victory.
Despite only running in a couple of maidens, he does seem versatile ground wise and could run into the places with the Cheltenham day one ground currently good-to-soft (good in places).
Arkle Novices’ Chase (2:00pm): KOPEK DES BORDES @ 13/8
The second race of the Festival sees Townend ride Kopek Des Bordes. He was incredibly impressive when landing last year’s Supreme and there were big expectations for him as a novice chaser, but an interrupted campaign leaves question marks.
He arrives at Cheltenham having made just one start over fences and could be up against it facing a more experienced market rival in Lulamba. Kopek Des Bordes has clearly had a couple of issues throughout the season and it would be quite an achievement to win an Arkle with such little experience over the larger obstacles.
But at the same time, he’s one of the Arkle runners that has to be respected given he represents such a powerful stable. Check out Andy Newton’s expert Cheltenham day one tips to see who he fancies in the race.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2:40pm): NO RIDE
There will be no ride for Townend in the Boodles, and it might be the best decision given it’s a race Willie Mullins have never won – surprisingly.
Ultima Handicap Chase (3:20pm): NO RIDE
Like the Boodles, Townend will not ride in the Ultima.
Champion Hurdle (4:00pm): LOSSIEMOUTH @ 2/1
The time has finally come, Lossiemouth will take her chance in the Champion Hurdle after months of debate about where she really should end up. Townend has partnered Lossiemouth to 11 of her 13 career wins and it’s undeniably a strong partnership.
With connections finally going for the Champion race instead of the Mares’, they must fancy her to come here and win.
Lossiemouth loves Cheltenham and is unbeaten in four races at the track. People suggest she might be better over further, but she comes to life at Prestbury Park so she has to be the one to beat.
And why shouldn’t they run in the bigger race? The Champion Hurdle prize money gives the winner £225,080 whereas if Lossiemouth was to win the Mares’, she would win just £70,338.
Plate Handicap Chase (4:40pm): NO RIDE
Townend’s day will end after the Champion Hurdle, as he doesn’t have a ride in the Plate either.
National Hunt Handicap Chase (5:20pm): NO RIDE
Rebecca Curtis reportedly asked Townend to ride Newton Tornado in this race, but he declined.
Note: All of these races will be live on ITV Racing
Combine All Of Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Rides Today With An 116/1 Acca!
You can combine Leader d’Allier, Kopek Des Bordes and Lossiemouth with all of Paul Townend’s Cheltenham Festival day one rides in a juicy 116/1 acca.
How Many Cheltenham Festival Winners Has Paul Townend Had?
Being connected to the Willie Mullins stable will no doubt bring plenty of success at the Cheltenham Festival and it’s fair to say that Townend has had plenty of it.
Having been the top jockey at the meeting five times in the last six years, those winners contributed to his tally of 38 at the Cheltenham Festival.
Townend has had great success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with four wins. He’s also found plenty of joy in the County Handicap Hurdle over the years with five winners.
All 38 Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Winners
- County Handicap Hurdle (5) – Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024), Kargese (2025)
- Gold Cup (4) – Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020), Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024)
- Arkle Novices’ Chase (3) – Duc des Genievres (2019), El Fabiolo (2023), Gaelic Warrior (2024)
- Turners Novices’ Hurdle (3) – Sir Gerhard (2022), Impaire Et Passe (2023), Ballyburn (2024)
- Mares’ Hurdle (3) – Glens Melody (2015), Lossiemouth (2024, 2025)
- Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (3) – Penhill (2017), Monkfish (2020), Jasmin De Vaux (2025)
- Triumph Hurdle (3) – Burning Victory (2020), Vauban (2022), Lossiemouth (2023)
- Champion Chase (2) – Energumene (2022, 2023)
- Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2) – Appreciate It (2021), Kopek Des Bordes (2025)
- Ryanair Chase (2) – Min (2020), Allaho (2022)
- Champion Hurdle (1) – State Man (2024)
- Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (1) – Monkfish (2021)
- Champion Bumper (1) – Ferny Hollow (2020)
- Stayers’ Hurdle (1) – Penhill (2017)
- Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase (1)* – Irish Cavalier (2015)
- Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (1) – What A Charm (2011)
- Mares’ Chase (1) – Colreevy (2021)
- Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (1) – Laurina (2018)
*Note: Centenary Novices’ Handicap Chase is no longer apart of the Cheltenham Festival Racecards.
