Paul Townend

Paul Townend (born 15 September 1990) is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Townend comes from Lisgoold in County Cork and is the stable jockey for Irish trainer Willie Mullins. Townend has worked for Mullins since he was just fifteen years of age, beginning his career as an apprentice flat racing jockey. He is a six-time Irish jump racing Champion Jockey. He was champion in the 2010–11, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 seasons.

In 2019 he gave Willie Mullins his first Cheltenham Gold Cup winner with Al Boum Photo and he repeated this success in 2020. He recorded his third and fourth win in the race on Galopin Des Champs in 2023 and 2024. He is bidding for history in 2025 going for three back to back Gold Cup victories. Following the retirement of Ruby Walsh, Townend became the number-one jockey to the Mullins yard.

Early life
When Townend was 15 his mother Josephine died of cancer. He his Junior Cert, he took Transition Year out. Townend's first cousin, David Condon, was a jockey in Willie Mullins’ yard at the time, and he took Paul under his wing. He never returned to school and has been a jockey ever since.

Career
In July 2008 Townend had his first winner over jumps. He rode Indian Pace to victory in the Galway Hurdle. In November he rode Hurricane Fly in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle to win his first grade one. On New years Eve he rode out his claim by winning a treble at Tramore.

In the 2011 Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle he rode What a Charm to get his first Cheltenham Festival winner. In the 2010/11 season Townend became Irish jump racing Champion Jockey at the age of 20 for the first time.

At day one of the 2018 Punchestown Festival Townend picked up a 21 day ban for dangerous riding when he tried to bypass a fence that was meant to be jumped which caused Robbie Powers horse to be carried out. However the ban did not take effect until the start of the 2018/19 season. This meant Townend was able to get a treble the next day on Pravalaguna, Next Destination and Patricks Park. In March 2019 Townend rode Al Boum Photo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He won by 2 1/2 lengths to give both Townend and Willie Mullins a first win in this race. Later in March Townend then rode his 100th Irish winner of the season in Clonmel to move further ahead of his nearest rival Rachael Blackmore. This was the first time Townend rode a century of Irish winners in a season. At the end of the 2018/19 season Townend became Irish jump racing Champion Jockey for the second time.

In 2020 Paul Townend became top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival for the first time. He had 5 winners including Al Boum Photo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup again. At the end of the 2019/20 season Townend became Irish jump racing Champion Jockey for the third time.

In April 2024, Townend and Mullins won the Randox Grand National on favourite horse I Am Maximus, owned by JP McManus.

Personal Life
Townend lives in Co Kilkenny with his girlfriend Sophie Vard Ryan and three Shetland ponies.

Cheltenham Festival winners (34)

 * Cheltenham Gold Cup  - (4) Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020), Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024)
 * Queen Mother Champion Chase - (2) Energumene (2022, 2023)
 * Champion Hurdle - (1) - State Man (2024)
 * Arkle Challenge Trophy    -(3) Duc des Genievres  (2019), El Fabiolo (2023), Gaelic Warrior (2024)
 * Broadway Novices' Chase - (1) - Monkfish (2021)
 * Supreme Novices' Hurdle - (1) Appreciate It (2021)
 * Gallagher Novices' Hurdle - (3) Sir Gerhard (2022), Impaire Et Passe (2023), Ballyburn (2024)
 * Champion Bumper - (1) Ferny Hollow (2020)
 * David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle   -(2) Glens Melody  (2015), Lossiemouth (2024)
 * Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle   - (2) Penhill (2017), Monkfish (2020)
 * Stayers' Hurdle  - (1) Penhill  (2018)
 * Triumph Hurdle -(3) Burning Victory (2020), Vauban (2022), Lossiemouth (2023)
 * Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase - (1) Irish Cavalier (2015)
 * Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle - (1) What A Charm (2011)
 * County Handicap Hurdle - (4) Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024)
 * Liberthine Mares' Chase - (1) Colreevy (2021)
 * Ryanair Chase - (2) Min (2020), Allaho (2022)
 * Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle - (1) Laurina (2018)

Major wins
🇮🇪 Ireland
 * Irish Gold Cup - (2) Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024)
 * Arkle Novice Chase   - (4) Golden Silver (2009),  Footpad (2018), Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022)
 * Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle - (4) Gaillard Du Mesnil (2021), State Man (2022), Impaire Et Passe (2023), Ballyburn (2024)
 * Dublin Chase - (4) Chacun Pour Soi (2020, 2021, 2022), El Fabiolo (2024)
 * Champion Stayers Hurdle   - (3) Quevega (2010), Klassical Dream (2022, 2023)
 * Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle   - (4) Champagne Fever (2013), Appreciate It (2021), Sir Gerhard (2022), Ballyburn (2024)
 * Christmas Hurdle   - (2) Mourad (2010), Klassical Dream (2021)
 * Punchestown Gold Cup - (1) Allaho (2022)
 * Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase   - (5) Citizen Vic (2010), Boston Bob (2013), Faugheen (2020), Monkfish (2021), Galopin Des Champs (2022)
 * Future Champions Novice Hurdle   - (4) Hurricane Fly (2008), Saturnas (2016), Appreciate It (2020), Facile Vega (2022)
 * Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle   - (2) Outlander (2015), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2021)
 * Greenmount Park Novice Chase   - (1) Bellshill (2016)
 * Hatton's Grace Hurdle   - (1) Hurricane Fly (2010)
 * Fort Leney Novice Chase - (3) Monkfish (2020), Gaillard Du Mesnil (2022), Grangeclare West (2023)
 * Champion Four Year Old Hurdle - (3) Vauban (2022), Lossiemouth (2023), Kargese (2024)
 * John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase   - (2) Min (2019), Galopin Des Champs (2022)
 * Herald Champion Novice Hurdle   - (2) Blackstairmountain (2010), Facile Vega (2023)
 * Irish Champion Hurdle   - (3) Hurricane Fly (2011), State Man (2023, 2024)
 * Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle   - (7) Marasonnien (2012), Killultagh Vic (2015), Next Destination (2018), Galopin Des Champs (2021), The Nice Guy (2022), Gaelic Warrior (2023), Dancing City (2024)
 * Mares Champion Hurdle   -(7) Tarla (2010), Glens Melody (2013), Whiteout (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018, 2019), Echoes In Rain (2023), Lossiemouth (2024)
 * Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final   - (5) Adriana Des Mottes  (2014), Laurina (2018), Brandy Love (2022), Ashroe Diamond (2023), Jade De Grugy (2024)
 * Morgiana Hurdle   -(4) Faugheen (2017), Sharjah (2018), State Man (2022,2023)
 * Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase   - (3) Golden Silver (2009), Twinlight  (2014), Chacun Pour Soi (2020)
 * Punchestown Champion Chase -(5) Golden Silver (2010), Un de Sceaux (2019), Chacun Pour Soi (2021), Energumene (2022, 2023)
 * Punchestown Champion Hurdle   -(3) Hurricane Fly (2010), State Man (2023, 2024)
 * Racing Post Novice Chase   - (3) Blackstairmountain (2011), Arvika Ligeonniere  (2012), Ferny Hollow (2021)
 * Royal Bond Novice Hurdle   -(3)  Hurricane Fly (2008), Zaidpour (2010), Nichols Canyon (2014)
 * December Festival Hurdle   - (4) Hurricane Fly (2010), Unaccompanied (2011), State Man (2022, 2023)
 * Ryanair Novice Chase - (3) Energumene (2021), Blue Lord (2022), El Fabiolo (2023)
 * Savills Chase - (1) Galopin Des Champs (2023)
 * Slaney Novice Hurdle   - (2) Mckinley (2015), Next Destination (2018)
 * Spring Juvenile Hurdle   - (3) Unaccompanied (2011),  Mr Adjudicator (2018), Vauban (2022)
 * Boylesports Gold Cup - (1) Galopin Des Champs (2022)

Great Britain
 * Aintree Hurdle - (1) Impaire Et Passe (2024)
 * Clarence House Chase   - (1) Un de Sceaux (2018)
 * Maghull Novices' Chase   - (1) Douvan (2016)
 * Manifesto Novices' Chase - (1) Il Etait Temps (2024)
 * Melling Chase   - (1) Boston Bob (2014)
 * Mersey Novices' Hurdle   - (1) Yorkhill (2016)
 * Sefton Novices' Hurdle - (1) Dancing City (2024)
 * Grand National - (1) I Am Maximus (2024)

🇺🇸 United States
 * Iroquois Steeplechase – (1) Scaramanga (2023)

🇫🇷 France
 * Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil - (1) Benie des Dieux (2019)