CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL JOCKEYS
CHELTENHAM JOCKEYS
If you’re looking to clue up on some of the most successful jockeys at Cheltenham Festival – past and present – you’ve come to the right place.
Peruse the below to read up on Cheltenham top jockey figures across the years and get to know the riders behind famous horses and racing victories from 1920 all the way through to the last few seasons.
So, without further ado…
Who are the most successful current jockeys?
With a remarkable fifteen winners in the last three years and a total of 32 wins to date, Ruby Walsh is the most successful jockey in the history of the Cheltenham Festival.
He has been leading jockey at six of the last eight Festivals and in 2011 won five races, including both of the championship hurdle races with Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle and Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle – a rare double only once achieved before, by John Francombe in 1981 aboard Sea Pigeon and Derring Rose.
Champion jockey Tony McCoy is now up to 25 triumphs courtesy of two more victories in 2011. He was also leading the Cheltenham jockeys rider in both 1997 and 1998.
Barry Geraghty has 20 Festival wins to his name, ahead of Richard Johnson with 17 winners and Robert Thornton with 16 – numbers that punters would like to see the current crop hold for Cheltenham festival betting tips purposes.
Current Rankings
32 Ruby Walsh
25 Tony McCoy
20 Barry Geraghty
17 Richard Johnson
16 Robert Thornton
11 Paul Carberry
8 Davy Russell
8 Timmy Murphy
6 Paddy Brennan
5 Graham Lee
4 Miss Nina Carberry
3 Andrew Thornton
3 Mr J T McNamara
Betting tips for the Festival
In line with our top jockey Cheltenham 2020 predictions, we have the latest tips for you to punt on from the action of Champions Day, all the way through to the final day drama through our Gold Cup tips.
As Cheltenham festival 2020 unfolds, we’ll also have the St Patrick’s and Ladies Day wagers available for you from the push of a button.
So as the build-up for day 1 of the races hots up, you won’t miss out on a single moment of the betting action.
The Leading Rider Award
The Leading Rider Award is a prestigious prize for the most successful of the Cheltenham jockeys at each Festival, through the Gold Cup and Ladies Day races – the lot. It also provides an added element of competition at Cheltenham in addition to the 27 top-class races.
A P McCoy, Richard Johnson, Barry Geraghty, Mick FitzGerald, Robert Thornton, and Graham Lee have all won the award as Cheltenham top jockey, although it is Ruby Walsh who has dominated recently.
Previous Leading Rider Award Winners
2011 Ruby Walsh
2010 Ruby Walsh
2009 Ruby Walsh
2008 Ruby Walsh
2007 Robert Thornton
2006 Ruby Walsh
2005 Graham Lee
2004 Ruby Walsh
2003 Barry Geraghty
2002 Richard Johnson
2000 Mick FitzGerald
1999 Mick FitzGerald
1998 Tony McCoy
1997 Tony McCoy
1996 Richard Dunwoody
1995 Norman Williamson
1994 Charlie Swan
1993 Charlie Swan
1992 Jamie Osborne
1991 Peter Scudamore
1990 Richard Dunwoody
1989 Tom Morgan
1988 Simon Sherwood
1987 Peter Scudamore
1986 Peter Scudamore
1985 Steve Smith Eccles
1984 Jonjo O’Neill
1983 Graham Bradley
1982 Jonjo O’Neill
1981 John Francome
1980 Jim Wilson
Who are the best Cheltenham jockeys of all time?
Only a select band of jockeys have had ten or more Cheltenham Festival winners, although honorable mentions should go to Graham Bradley and Mark Dwyer, who both rode nine.
In 2010 Ruby Walsh overtook the legendary Pat Taaffe, who rode four Gold Cup and five Champion Chase winners:
32 Ruby Walsh
25 Tony McCoy
25 Pat Taaffe
20 Barry Geraghty
18 Richard Dunwoody
17 Richard Johnson
17 Charlie Swan
17 Fred Winter
16 Robert Thornton
16 Tommy Carberry
14 Mick Fitzgerald
13 Peter Scudamore
11 Jamie Osborne
11 Norman Williamson
11 Paul Carberry
10 John Francombe
Take a read of our Cheltenham FAQ for more information.