Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Odds: Mullins the value without Townend?

One of the many side stories of the Cheltenham Festival is the race to be crowned top jockey, awarded to the member of the weighing room with the most wins across the event's four days.

I've had a look at the Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Odds and given my thoughts on where the value may lie.

Unsurprisingly, Paul Townend is Betfred's odds-on favourite to be top jockey at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

The 34-year-old, stable jockey for Willie Mullins who's even shorter to be top trainer, is 2/5 to ride the most winners across all four days at Prestbury Park.

He'll be doing the steering on favourite Kopek Des Bordes in the curtain-raiser - the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle - so is fancied to make a blistering start.

It goes without saying he'll get the leg up on many more fancied horses throughout the week and I couldn't put anyone off taking short odds on him being crowned top jockey for the fifth time.

That being said, I think Mark Walsh is fairly-priced at 11/2.

Being JP McManus' main man, he has some fantastic opportunities - including Majborough, who's odds-on for the Arkle, and Fact To File, who'll be a warm order if he goes in the Ryanair and far from hopeless in a Gold Cup. He'll be on board some fancied handicappers, too.

Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey Odds

Odds of 6/1 about Nico De Boinville isn't to be sniffed at either.

Nicky Henderson's number one mightn't have the quantity of rides as Paul Townend, for example, but he sure has the quality. Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle. Jonbon in the Champion Chase. Lulamba in the Triumph. Possibly Lucky Place in the Stayers'.

Don't forget the likes of Jeriko Du Reponet, vying for favouritism in the Pertemps, and other handicap hopefuls.

Jack Kennedy, who's recovered from a broken leg just in time for the Festival, is available at 7/1 to be top dog in the Cheltenham weighing room.

As stable jockey for Gordon Elliott, his leading chances include Teahupoo in the Stayers', Brighterdaysahead in the Champion Hurdle and Galvin in the Cross Country. Romeo Coolio, The Yellow Clay and Co aren't forlorn hopes either.

It's a lot harder to get excited about 20/1 for Sam Ewing now that Kennedy is back in action. He'll be riding Elliott's second-string and plenty of luck will be needed if he's to stake a claim.

Betfred also have a Top Jockey Without Paul Townend market, headed by the aforementioned Mark Walsh at 7/4. Nico de Boinville and Jack Kennedy are both 5/2.

As far as I'm concerned, the value is Danny Mullins at 25/1. He'll pick up some quality rides for his uncle and I certainly expect him to fare better than Ewing, who's 14/1 in this market.

*You can check out all of Betfred's Cheltenham Betting Odds over on our main hub page on betfred.com

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights