See the Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival rides today on Wednesday 11th March where he gets the leg up on four horses for Willie Mullins…
Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Rides Today – Wednesday 11th March
Seven-time Irish Champion Jockey will have four rides on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival where his best chance looks to be .
Turners Novices’ Hurdle (1:20pm): KING RASKO GREY @ 8/1
King Rasko Grey will be Townend’s opening race ride on Wednesday after his one winner on Tuesday.
Willie Mullins declared multiple horses in this and Townend has chosen to stick with King Rasko Grey after his close third at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Stepping up to 2m5f looks the right choice, given he needed every yard of 2m last time out in the Tattersalls. The extra distance should suit and he can go close for his trainer who has won this race three times in the last four years.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2:00pm): FINAL DEMAND @ 11/2
Townend will ride Final Demand in race two on Wednesday who arrives at the Festival with a bit to prove.
This will be his first go over 3m+ under rules and he comes into it after blowing out at DRF last time when he was beaten 12 ½ lengths by stablemate Kaid d’Authie – who also opposes.
He has raced at Cheltenham once before and finished third behind Champion Hurdle third The New Lion in last year’s Turners. He has bounced back from defeat before, but does he have what it takes to get up the hill?
BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (2:40pm): NO RIDE
Townend will sit out of the Cup as he has no ride in the race.
Cross Country Chase (3:20pm): NO RIDE
He also has no ride in the Cross Country, but who can blame him really?
Champion Chase (4:00pm): IL ETAIT TEMPS @ 4/1
Townend gets back into action with a ride on Il Etait Temps in the Champion Chase.
He’s been widely regarded as one of the best 2m horses around since returning from a lay-off almost 12 months ago, but like Final Demand, he has something to prove.
His record around Cheltenham isn’t too good (0/3) and he also lines up on the back of a heavy fall at Ascot. He’ll need a career best to win but given his connections and recent Champion Chase trends, he could have a chance coming to the final fence.
Grand Annual Handicap Chase (4:40pm): NO RIDE
The Grand Annual is another handicap that Townend will be sitting out of.
Champion Bumper (5:20pm): QUIRYN @ 8/1
Townend will finish off Wednesday with a ride in the Champion Bumper where he partners Quiryn.
Like most of his rivals, he’s in the category of ‘could be anything’ and heads to Cheltenham unbeaten after bolting up at Naas earlier this year. He won by nine lengths that day and is surely open to any amount of improvements.
Note: All of these races will be live on ITV Racing
Combine All Of Paul Townend Cheltenham Festival Rides Today With An 2631/1 Acca!
You can combine all of Townend’s rides on Wednesday into a huge 2631/1 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 39 at the Cheltenham Festival. Lossiemouth winning in the Champion Hurdle in 2026 took him a step closer to that 40 winner mark.
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), Lossiemouth (2026)
- 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.
