Category: Jockeys

Born in Youghal, County Cork on June 27, 1979, David Niall ‘Davy’ Russell retired from the saddle for the second and final time on April 15, 2023, Grand National Day, and will always be best remembered for winning back-to-back renewals of the world famous steeplechase on Tiger Roll, trained by Gordon Elliott, in 2018 and 2019. There was to be no fairytale ending to his Grand National career, though, as he was unseated from Galvin, also trained by Elliott, at the first fence on his final attempt. He had, however, won the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on Irish Point, again trained by Ellliott, earlier in the day to take his career tally to 61 Grade 1 winners.

A successful amateur rider, with 133 point-to-point winners to his name, Russell joined Ferdy Murphy in Middleham, North Yorkshire in 2002 and rode his first winner as a professional, Inn Antique in a novices’ hurdle at Sedgefield, in November that year. He subsequently returned to Ireland to ride as a freelance jockey and between 2007 and 2013 was retained by Gigginstown House Stud. He became champion jockey in his native land three times, in 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2017/18.

As far as the Cheltenham Festival is concerned, Russell rode a total of 25 winners, starting with Native Jack, trained by Philip Rothwell, in what is now the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2006. Thereafter, he had the distinction of riding at least one Festival winner every year up to and including 2018.

He won the Pertemps Final and the Broadway Novices’ Chase three times apiece, on Mall Dini (2016), Presenting Percy (2017) and Delta Work (2018) and Weapons Amnesty (2010), Lord Windermere (2013) and Presenting Percy (2018), as well as the Triumph Hurdle on the aforementioned Tiger Roll (2014). His highest-profile Festival success came in a dramatic edition of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2014, when he guided Lord Windermere, trained by Jim Culloty, to a short-head victory over On His Own, trained by Willie Mullins, and survived a lengthy stewards’ inquiry.

Born in Midleton, County Cork on September 15, 1990, Paul Townend became stable jockey to Willie Mullins at Closutton, County Carlow following the retirement of Ruby Walsh on May 1, 2019. That season he won his second Irish jump jockeys’ title, having won his first, aged just 20, in 2010/11. Indeed, following his promotion, he would retain his title for the next four seasons running.

As far as the Cheltenham Festival is concerned, Townend rode his first winner, What A Charm, trained by Arthur Moore, in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in 2011. He has since increased his career tally to 34 winners and won each of the four ‘feature’ races – the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup – at least once.

Townend has the distinction of winning the ‘Blue Riband’ event, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, four times, twice on Al Boum Photo (2019 and 2020) and twice on Galopin Des Champs (2023 and 2024). Those wins represent a welcome change of fortune for Mullins, who, prior to 2019, had saddled the runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on six occasions. Of course, the future could be brighter still for Mullins, Townend and Galopin Des Champs who, at the time of writing, is top-priced 6/4 favourite to become the first horse since Best Mate, in 2004, to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years running.

Townend has won the Queen Mother Chase twice, on Energumene (2022 and 2023), and the Champion Hurdle and Stayers’ Hurdle once apiece, on State Man (2024) and Penhill (2018), respectively. He was also won the County Hurdle four times, the Arkle Challenge Trophy and the Triumph Hurdle three times apiece and the Ryanair Chase twice. Indeed, in 2020, 2022 and 2023, Townend won the Ruby Walsh Trophy, awarded to the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, having ridden five winners over the four days on each occasion.