Paul Townend facts for kids
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Paul Townend was born in Ireland on September 15, 1990. He is a famous Irish jockey who rides in National Hunt racing. This type of racing involves horses jumping over fences and hurdles. Paul grew up in Lisgoold, County Cork.
Since he was fifteen, Paul has worked with the well-known Irish horse trainer, Willie Mullins. He started his career as a young jockey in flat racing, where horses run on a flat track. After another famous jockey, Ruby Walsh, retired in 2019, Paul became the main jockey for Mullins' stable.
Paul Townend has achieved many great wins. He won the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup five times. His wins were with Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020, Galopin Des Champs in 2023 and 2024, and Gaelic Warrior in 2026. He also won the Irish Grand National in 2023. In 2024 and 2026, he won the exciting Aintree Grand National with a horse named I Am Maximus. Paul has been named the Irish jump racing Champion Jockey seven times. These titles were for the 2010/11, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, and 2024/25 seasons.
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Paul Townend's Early Life and Family
Paul Townend was born on September 15, 1990. He grew up on a small farm in County Cork, Ireland. His family has a strong connection to horse racing. His father, Tim, trains special horses for "point-to-point" races. These are races held across open country.
Paul's younger sister, Jody, is also an amateur jockey. His cousin, Davy Condon, was a jockey too before he retired. Paul went to primary school in Lisgoold. Later, he attended Midleton CBS Secondary School. During his school years, he enjoyed competing in pony racing. After finishing his junior certificate, Paul left school. He then started working as an apprentice for trainer Willie Mullins. His cousin was already a jockey there.
Paul Townend's Racing Journey
Starting as a Flat Jockey
Paul began his racing career riding in flat races. His very first win was on a horse called The Chip Chopman. This happened at Limerick on June 22, 2007, when he was sixteen years old. He won ten races that season. However, because of his weight, he soon switched to riding over fences. This change happened in 2008.
Success in Jump Racing
In July 2008, Paul won the Galway Hurdle on Indian Pace. Later that year, in November 2008, he rode Hurricane Fly to victory. This was in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, a very important Grade 1 race. Paul got this chance because Willie Mullins' main jockey was injured. By the end of 2008, he had achieved enough wins to become a full jockey.
Paul rode in his first Grand National race in 2009. He finished eleventh on Irish Invader. His first win at the famous Cheltenham Festival came in 2011. He won the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle with What A Charm. In that same season, he was named the Irish jump racing Champion Jockey for the first time.
Becoming a Champion Jockey
In March 2019, Paul rode Al Boum Photo to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This was a huge moment, as it was the first time both Paul and trainer Willie Mullins had won this race. Soon after, Paul reached a milestone of 100 wins in Ireland. At the end of the 2018/19 season, he became the Irish jump racing Champion Jockey for the second time. He had 109 wins that season. When Ruby Walsh retired in May 2019, Paul became the main jockey for Willie Mullins.
Dominating the Cheltenham Festival
In 2020, Paul was the top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival. He won 5 races, including his second Cheltenham Gold Cup with Al Boum Photo. He was crowned Irish jump racing Champion Jockey for the third time that season. Paul continued his success, holding the title for the next three seasons. He was also the top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
He won the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Energumene in both 2022 and 2023. In 2023 and 2024, he won the Gold Cup again with Galopin Des Champs. This made him equal Pat Taaffe's record of four Gold Cup wins. In 2024, he also won the Champion Hurdle on State Man.
Grand National Victories
In April 2023, Paul won the Irish Grand National with I Am Maximus. This horse was owned by JP McManus and trained by Willie Mullins. The next year, in 2024, Paul and I Am Maximus won the famous Aintree Grand National. This was Paul's thirteenth time riding in that race. He had completed the course only three times before.
In the 2025 Grand National, Paul rode I Am Maximus again, finishing second. Then, in 2026, I Am Maximus, with Paul riding, won the Grand National once more! This made I Am Maximus the first horse since Red Rum to win the Grand National multiple times.
Paul Townend's Life Outside Racing
Paul Townend lives in County Kilkenny, Ireland. He shares his home with his girlfriend, Sophie Vard Ryan. They also have three adorable Shetland ponies!
Key Wins at the Cheltenham Festival
Paul Townend has won many races at the famous Cheltenham Festival. Here are some of his most important victories:
- Cheltenham Gold Cup - He won this top race 5 times with Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020), Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024), and Gaelic Warrior (2026).
- Queen Mother Champion Chase - He won this race 3 times with Energumene (2022, 2023) and Il Etait Temps (2026).
- Champion Hurdle - He won this race 2 times with State Man (2024) and Lossiemouth (2026).
- Arkle Challenge Trophy - He won this race 3 times with Duc des Genievres (2019), El Fabiolo (2023), and Gaelic Warrior (2024).
- Turner Novices' Hurdle - He won this race 4 times with Sir Gerhard (2022), Impaire Et Passe (2023), Ballyburn (2024), and King Rasko Grey (2026).
- County Handicap Hurdle - He won this race 5 times with Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), State Man (2022), Absurde (2024), and Kargese (2025).
- Other notable wins include the Triumph Hurdle (3 times), David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (3 times), and Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3 times).
Other Major Racing Victories
Paul Townend has also achieved many other significant wins across Ireland, Great Britain, and even the United States and France.
Wins in Ireland
- Irish Gold Cup - 3 wins with Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024, 2025).
- Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle - 6 wins, including Gaillard Du Mesnil (2021) and State Man (2022).
- Dublin Chase - 4 wins, including Chacun Pour Soi (2020, 2021, 2022).
- Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle - 5 wins, including Champagne Fever (2013) and Appreciate It (2021).
- Irish Champion Hurdle - 4 wins, including Hurricane Fly (2011) and State Man (2023, 2024, 2025).
- Mares Champion Hurdle - 8 wins, including Tarla (2010) and Glens Melody (2013).
- Irish Grand National - 1 win with I Am Maximus (2023).
Wins in Great Britain
- Aintree Grand National - 2 wins with I Am Maximus (2024, 2026).
- Aintree Hurdle - 2 wins with Impaire Et Passe (2024) and Lossiemouth (2025).
- Clarence House Chase - 1 win with Un de Sceaux (2018).
- King George VI Chase - 1 win with Banbridge (2024).
International Wins
- Iroquois Steeplechase (United States) - 1 win with Scaramanga (2023).
- Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (France) - 1 win with Benie des Dieux (2019).
