The County Cork man is the punters’ pick over the last week
Paul Townend is proving very popular with punters, who have been backing him to come away from Cheltenham Festival with the Top Jockeys title.
The Middleton-born rider is the current favourite at 15/8, but punters are lapping that price up and clearly think he should be shorter.
Since Ruby Walsh’s retirement last season, Paul Townend is now number one for Willie Mullins and has a whole range of extremely good horses at his disposal for Cheltenham.
Given the fact that Ruby Walsh won 11 of the last 16 titles, it is obvious why punters are now flocking to back Paul Townend, in the hope he can replicate that sort of form.
Over the last month, money has been pouring in for the County Cork 29-year-old. As the Festival draws closer, punters are looking for some value in the Cheltenham markets and it looks like Townend is the ticket plenty are after.
Over the last week, 22% of all bets in the market have backed the pilot, ahead of the next most popular punt, Rachael Blackmore, who has 18% of all bets.
It is no wonder either. He will have a serious set of rides. The highlight of his career so far was at Cheltenham last year when he landed the Gold Cup with Al Boum Photo and he is the favourite for the race again this year.
He will also have the ride of the superstar mare Benie Des Dieux. After her victory at Gowran Park in January, Willie described her as the best mare he has ever trained. Some claim for the master trainer and some ride for Paul Townend at the Festival.
Chacun Pour Soi, the exciting chaser who will go for the Champion Chase has every chance and he will also have the ride of Allaho who has a great chance in the RSA or Marsh Chase.
Those are just four of his top rides and there are plenty of others who have great chances. He is certainly the man to beat in the jockey’s title and Oddschecker users are struggling to see past him.
Rachel Blackmore is riding out of her skin and is now the best price of 6/1, having been a double-figure price a few weeks ago. Her partnership with Henry De Bromhead is going from strength to strength and they may pose Townend and Mullins their biggest challenge.
Davy Russell shortened from 9/2 into 10/3 last week following the news that Jack Kennedy would miss Cheltenham through an unfortunate injury he sustained at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Elsewhere, Robbie Power is the best price of 14/1, which has attracted some interest on Oddschecker, with Nico De Boinville the leading English chance, at a best price of 10/1.
Get more insight and previews for the Festival on our Cheltenham tips page.
