Jockeys With The Most Cheltenham Festival Wins  

Cheltenham is an important horse-racing event for people involved in the sport, including jockeys, trainers, owners, and those who bet on the festival. A key part of Cheltenham is the Gold Cup. This event sees 16 jockeys each hoping to take home the big award. In this article, we will find out who has won the most at Cheltenham. We’ll also get to know some of the top trainers! 

Ruby Walsh – Most Successful Overall  

Ruby Walsh holds the record for the highest number of victories in Cheltenham at a whopping 59! Amazingly, these four wins all occurred on one day at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival. Plus, he won two Gold Cups, the first in 2007 and again in 2009, both times on Kauto Star. 

Most Jockey Wins Over The Past 10 Years  

With Ruby Walsh not competing in the Cheltenham Festival anymore, it’s time to highlight other prominent jockeys. Let us take a look at the most successful ones at Cheltenham in the recent decade: 

1. Paul Townend  

Cheltenham Wins: 27  

Looking at the latest stats, Paul Townend’s performance is head and shoulders above the rest – he’s bagged first prize in 27 out of 158 races! His crowning glory so far has been the Cheltenham Festival of 2020, where he took the top spot no less than five times. He has then ridden at least 3 winners in every Cheltenham Festival since, at the time of writing.  

As for the Gold Cup, Townend has lifted this trophy a total of 3 times. The most recent was a win in 2023 with the widely adored Galopin Des Champs!  

2. Nico de Boinville   

Cheltenham Wins: 16  

Next  is Nico de Boinville. He’s a jockey from England who has secured 16 victories from 100 races. He’s not just any jockey. He works for Nicky Henderson, a highly accomplished trainer. Nicky has more than 500 wins and counting. 

Altior is the horse that has given Nico de Boinville the most wins during the Cheltenham Festival, sitting at three. Many of his wins, as is expected, have come from horses that sit as the outright favourite before the race gets underway.  

3. Rachael Blackmore  

Cheltenham Wins: 14  

Rachael Blackmore, hailed as the best female jockey in the United Kingdom, comes third on our list. Rachael is famous for her victory on Minella Times in the Grand National. However, she has also shone remarkably in the Cheltenham Festival, boasting 14 wins out of 87 races. 

A noteworthy victory is the 2022 Gold Cup, won with A Plus Tard. Notably, this is the same horse that marked Rachael’s initial Cheltenham triumph back in 2019. In the realm of horse racing tales, this is one of the pinnacle narratives! 

Cheltenham’s Top Trainers from 2003 onwards  

From 2003 till now, at Cheltenham we’ve had four trainers who’ve been a great distance ahead of the pack: 

• Willie Mullins – Willie Mullins, one of the best, secures the first spot with a record of 86 victories at the Cheltenham Festival since 2003. 

• Nicky Henderson – Secondly, we have Nicky Henderson. Nico de Boinville being his main jockey was discussed earlier. Henderson marked 48 wins at Cheltenham. 

• Paul Nicholls – Paul Nicholls, another leading trainer, has 40 Cheltenham wins under his belt post-2003. 

• Gordon Elliot – Finally, we have Gordon Elliot. A renowned name in horse racing with a significant record of 37 Cheltenham victories.  

Leading Current Jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival  

In short, the top jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival are Paul Townend, Nico de Boinville, and Rachael Blackmore. They’re certain to attract those placing bets on the Cheltenham Festival. 

Also noteworthy are Jack Kennedy, Mark Walsh, and Sam Twiston-Davies. They have pierced the victory lines 10, 8, and 6 times respectively at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Cheltenham Jockeys