The jumps season is now going through the gears, with some big races on the horizon as jump racing stars emerge from hibernation, with National Hunt jockeys risking life and limb every afternoon for the next 6 months.
National Hunt Jockeys: 5 Stars to Watch This Season
It is full steam ahead with all roads leading to the likes of Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown next spring and here we are looking at five jump jockeys worth keeping an eye on this season.
National Hunt Jockeys: Harry Skelton
Harry Skelton was Britain’s champion rider in the 2020/21 season and he could be on his way to a second title. Across the opening months of the season, Skelton was boasting a 27 per cent strike-rate from over 275 rides, a stunning effort. He teams up strongly with his brother, Dan, the current favourite to be crowned champion trainer in Britain this season. They are a formidable force and look set for a big season in 2024/25 – could they end it with a landmark trainer/jockey title double?
National Hunt Jockeys: Sean Bowen
A chief rival for the jockeys’ championship could be Sean Bowen, Skelton’s nearest pursuer in the standings in the early days of November. Bowen is now the key man for trainer Olly Murphy over jumps, boasting a 25 per cent strike-rate from more than 200 mounts in the previous 12 months. He also picks up plenty of winners for his father, Peter, and gets the leg up on some of Gordon Elliott’s UK raiders. He was only narrowly denied the title last season after a thrilling race and looks eager to go for gold again.
National Hunt Jockeys: Harry Cobden
The champion jockey. Cobden won a terrific duel with Bowen last spring to become Britain’s champion jumps jockey for the first time in his career and one thing seems assured, it won’t be his only title. Cobden is the stable jockey to Paul Nicholls at his powerful operation and is assured plenty of quality rides from there. Born and raised just 10 minutes from Ditcheat, the Somerset lad is also getting his share of winners for other trainers and could well mount a stern defence of his crown.
National Hunt Jockeys: Darragh O’Keeffe
Darragh O’Keeffe is a rising star of the weighing room in Ireland. The 24-year-old is now attached to Henry De Bromhead’s yard and has been making waves of late while Rachael Blackmore is sidelined with injury, including his win in the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal on Envoi Allen. He is a former champion conditional jockey in Ireland and won the Ride of the Year at the 2021 HRI Awards for his efforts on A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. The future looks bright for the Cork native.
National Hunt Jockeys: Paul Townend
The man they all have to catch. Paul Townend is a six-time champion jockey in Ireland and will be eager to get that mantle back after Jack Kennedy took over in 2024. As stable jockey to the all-conquering Willie Mullins, the 34-year-old Cork man has a battalion of horses the envy of every rider in Britain and Ireland. He’s ridden 34 Cheltenham Festival winners, including four Gold Cups in the last six years and further big-race glory surely lies in front of him.
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