Paul Townend – Grand National Jockeys 2024 To Watch
Townend claimed his first Grand National win in 2024, riding I Am Maximus to victory in the historic Aintree contest. Widely acknowledged as one of the best National Hunt jockeys in the world, Irishman Paul Townend has won many of racing’s most elite contests. His talent for delivering on the biggest stage has produced a monumental hall of 34 wins at the Cheltenham Festival, six of which came at the 2024 meeting in March.
His profitable partnership with trainer Willie Mullins has seen him ride some of the best jumps horses of the past decade, including two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs. He’ll go to the Grand National Festival at Aintree in fine form after grabbing the top jockey title at Cheltenham 2024.
Who is Paul Townend?
Paul Townend is a highly accomplished Irish jockey known for his exceptional talent and victories in some of horse racing’s biggest contests. Born in County Cork, Ireland, Townend hails from a family with deep connections to the sport. His father, Tim Townend, is a former jockey and trainer. Townend possesses a natural aptitude for riding and quickly rose through the ranks of the racing world. After claiming his first win over jumps in July 2008, he quickly established himself as one of the top riders in Ireland.
Townend and powerhouse Irish trainer Willie Mullins have a long-standing and exceptionally successful association. He has ridden numerous Mullins horses to victory at prestigious meetings such as the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals. He has partnered with some of the most iconic horses of the past few years, including the legendary Hurricane Fly and the multiple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo. A Grand National win is one of the very few racing accolades missing from his list of honours. His best finish to date came in 2023 with Gaillard Du Mesnil, who finished 3rd.
Throughout his career, Townend has amassed an impressive collection of major race victories, earning him widespread recognition and respect from both the racing media and fans. His riding style is characterised by precision and a deep understanding of the sport, making him a formidable competitor on the racecourse.
Paul Townend Grand National Record
Townend’s Grand National Debut came in 2009 when he rode Irish Invader to eleventh place at Aintree. After a few near misses he won his first Grand National last year on I Am Maximus. The details of all his Grand National runs are listed below.
| Year | Horse | Trainer | SP | Finishing Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | I Am Maximus | Willie Mullins | 7/1JF | 1st |
| 2023 | Gaillard Du Mesnil | Willie Mullins | 10/1 | 3rd |
| 2022 | Burrows Saint | Willie Mullins | 33/1 | Unseated at Fence 15 |
| 2019 | Pleasant Company | Willie Mullins | 12/1 | Unseated at Fence 27 |
| 2018 | Total Recall | Willie Mullins | 7/1F | Pulled Up at Fence 29 |
| 2017 | O’Faolains Boy | Rebecca Curtis | 50/1 | Pulled Up at Fence 30 |
| 2016 | Boston Bob | Willie Mullins | 25/1 | Pulled Up at Fence 22 |
| 2015 | Bob Ford | Rebecca Curtis | 50/1 | Pulled Up at Fence 29 |
| 2014 | Prince de Beauchene | Willie Mullins | 20/1 | 16th |
| 2013 | Quel Espirt | Willie Mullins | 40/1 | Pulled Up at Fence 23 |
| 2012 | On His Own | Willie Mullins | 14/1 | Fell at Fence 21 |
| 2010 | Arbor Supreme | Willie Mullins | 16/1 | Unseated at Fence 15 |
| 2009 | Irish Invader | Willie Mullins | 16/1 | 11th |
Paul Townend Biggest Career Race Wins
Paul Townend is widely recognised as one of the best jumps jockeys in the world. He has several outstanding victories, many of which came in elite Grade 1 contests. His list of achievements includes multiple wins at the year’s most significant jumps meeting, the Cheltenham Festival. He rode Mullins-trained superstar Galopin Des Champs to consecutive Irish Gold Cup triumphs in 2023 and 2024 and to a Cheltenham Gold Cup win in 2023.
Here’s a longer list of the biggest horse racing wins of Townend’s career to date.
| Date | Horse | SP | Race | Grade | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/03/24 | Absurde | 12/1 | Irish Gold Cup | Premier Handicap | Leopardstown |
| 12/03/24 | Gaelic Warrior | 2/1F | County Handicap Hurdle | Grade 1 | Leopardstown |
| 03/02/24 | Galopin Des Champs | 1/3F | Irish Gold Cup | Grade 1 | Leopardstown |
| 19/04/23 | I Am Maximus | 8/1 | Irish Grand National | Grade A | Fairyhouse |
| 17/03/23 | Galopin Des Champs | 7/5F | Gold Cup | Grade 1 | Cheltenham |
| 14/03/23 | El Fabiolo | 11/10F | Arkle Trophy | Grade 1 | Cheltenham |
| 04/02/23 | Galopin Des Champs | 3/10 | Irish Gold Cup | Grade 1 | Leopardstown |
| 16/03/21 | Ferny Hollow | 11/1 | Champion Hurdle | Grade 1 | Cheltenham |
| 02/02/20 | Kemboy | 2/1 | Irish Gold Cup | Grade 1 | Leopardstown |
| 28/04/19 | Al Boum Photo | 9/2 | Punchestown Gold Cup | Grade 1 | Punchestown |
| 15/03/19 | Al Boum Photo | 12/1 | Cheltenham Gold Cup | Grade 1 | Cheltenham |
| 12/03/19 | Klassical Dream | 6/1 | Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | Grade 1 | Cheltenham |
Paul Townend Grand National FAQs
Has Paul Townend won the Grand National?
No, a win in the Aintree Grand National is one of the very few achievements missing from Townend’s impressive racing resume.
Has Paul Townend won the Irish Grand National?
Yes, Paul Townend claimed his first victory in the Irish Grand National in 2023, riding 8/1 outsider I Am Maximus to an impressive win.
Which horse will Paul Townend ride in the 2024 Grand National?
Paul Townend will ride I Am Maximus in the 2024 Aintree Grand National for Irish trainer Willie Mullins.
What is Paul Townend’s biggest horse racing win?
Townend list of wins is extensive and includes multiple Grade 1 triumphs at the most elite jumps meetings on the planet. Most racing fans would pick his Cheltenham Gold Cup wins as the highlight of his achievements. He guided Al Boum Photo to Gold Cup triumph at the festival in 2019 and repeated the feat with Galopin Des Champs in 2023 and 2024.
How much does the Grand National winner get?
The Grand National’s winning jockey gets a share of the prize money awarded to the winning horse’s connections. In recent years, the prize fund for the Grand National has been around £1 million, with the winner bagging a significant portion of that. The exact amount the winning jockey gets will vary depending on the arrangements made between them and the horse’s owner.
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