While defending Cheltenham Festival Leading Jockey Paul Townend, 15-time Cheltenham winner Nico de Boinville and multiple-time Irish jump racing Champion Jockey Davy Russell are the big-name jockeys tipped to succeed at Prestbury Park next month – there are a number of up-and-coming prospects and experienced veterans who could surprise some people at the famed Festival.
National Hunt racing is a wildly unpredictable sport, and with the recent poor performances from the Cheltenham betting odds Leading Jockey favourite Townend at the Dublin Racing Festival – in which the 32-year-old was beaten atop four short-priced hotshots – there will be some jockeys who are outsiders in the betting lines who fancy their chances of causing some notable upsets.
With that in mind, read on as we take a look at two jockeys to keep an eye on at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival next month.
Danny Mullins
Riding high off his success at the Dublin Racing Festival, in which he reigned supreme in three Group 1 affairs atop the Willie Mullins-trained Gala Marceau, Gentleman De Mee and Il Etait Temps – Danny Mullins will be entering next month’s renewal with immense confidence.
Additionally, provided the 30-year-old jockey beat heavy favourites en route to his three aforementioned victories at Leopardstown, all of whom were stablemates, it has given fans and pundits reason to speculate as to whether Mullins will choose to utilise his nephew more often – rather than entrusting all of his top thoroughbreds with Townend.
And if his comments in Ireland were anything to go by, it’s safe to say that Mullins is best pleased with his second jockey at the moment.
“Danny is fantastic as a second jockey,” he said. “He has ridden three Grade 1 winners now this weekend and that is a lifetime achievement for a lot of people. Danny is able to read situations in a race and play to it.”
With Mullins expected to be onboard the dangerous Gala Marceau, Gentleman De Mee, Il Etait Temps, Desert Dynamo and Vauban at the Cheltenham Festival – he could prove good value at 12/1 to take home his first Leading Jockey award.
Rachael Blackmore
Cheltenham’s Leading Jockey in 2021, Rachael Blackmore currently sits as the fourth favourite to win it for a second time at 11/1. Although it will prove difficult for her to defy the odds given the supremely talented stables she will be going up against – you can never count out someone of Blackmore’s calibre.
Her best hopes at the Festival will likely be onboard A Plus Tard in the Gold Cup (6/1), Envoi Allen at 8/1 in the Ryanair Chase, Hiddenvalley in the Albert Bartlett (7/1) and Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle, who is the favourite at 2/1.
Blackmore will be particularly motivated to win the Mares’ Hurdle, with it marking the all-time great mare’s last hurrah before retirement. The pair have enjoyed incredible success together, of which includes two consecutive Champion Chase victories and a hattrick of Irish Champion Hurdle triumphs.
Even if it does so happen that Blackmore is unable to challenge for the Leading Jockey award across the four-day meet – her final ride atop Honeysuckle will be must-see viewing.
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