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I felt the need to start this thread just to show the appreciation this man truly deserves.
He has developed into a high class jockey and is not too far behind Ruby when it comes to placing a horse during a race and getting him into a rhythm. His Irish strike-rate for the 22/23 season was an incredible 39% (107 winners from 276 rides) and he won about 22 Grade 1 races during that period (in IRE and GB combined).
He rides tracks like Cheltenham, Leopardstown and especially Punchestown like no other jockey. I thimk he deserves a lot of credit for the way he progressed after he took over the no. 1 spot at Closutton.
Well done to him.
He’s good but I don’t think he’s better than cobden or jack Kennedy
His job on half his rides is essentially not to fall off and he will win
The strength and depth of the mullins yard is incredible
What that does do is place a lot of pressure on the main jockey, something he handles very well
Slightly above average jockey making hay while the sun shines (and good luck to him).
Someone like Aiden Coleman would likely do just as well with the same ammunition.
Townend is clearly a very good jockey. He is mentally very strong. He has had a few setbacks and had to take a fair bit of criticism from his predecessor but he has always bounced back by riding big race winners. His ride on Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup is a candidate for jumps ride of the season.
Having said that, I agree with the comments about how he gets to ride a lot of Mullins certainties. Plenty of jockeys would win on those.
He also has a touch of arrogance about him. That is not a bad thing in a top class sportsman. But I do think there have been a few occasions when Townend has pushed the rules as far as they will go. I was pleased when he was disqualified on Ramilles earlier in the season.
A very good jockey for sure. But I would not put him in the same category as Walsh, Geraghty or McCoy at their best.
Magnificent a bit strong.. very, very good and would have to be riding for Mullins but alongside that has a string of top quality to ride.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
ERL’s had a few Townsend multiples up this week and is feeling in a generous mood.
Fair play.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"Not really, Ian. I went against GDC and just missed out on the straight forecast when BMG was caught for 2nd.
But, I think he makes less mistakes than most other jockeys and doesn’t seem to fall that often. Especially, not at the last with the race at his mercy.
Coleman clearly is a better jockey and the best one riding for JP, but Townends numbers simply don’t lie.A wee bit like congratulating a man with an AK47 for winning a shooting contest when his rivals have spud guns?
He’s a good jock all right, or he wouldn’t be riding for WM. He does seem to fall less often than Ruby did, and seems to make fewer mistakes in picking the right one of multiple entries. I think the all round praise for his Gold Cup ride is miles over the top. He was on the best stayer in the race, and one with a turn of foot, he was a short priced fav and was cantering three out.
Why no critique of his ride last time to get the horse beat at 4/11? It was a fairly steady pace and he could be almost certain his mount would outstay every one of them, yet he sat around until it was much too late to make it all about stamina. I heard not a word from the ITV pundits on it, though they swooped quickly to have a right go at Coleman on Saturday for the Jonbon ride.
Of his Gold Cup ride, he himself said the horse got him out of trouble so clearly he didn’t think it was the kind of ride to receive the praise he actually got from certain circles. That being said I do think he is a very good jockey and I would struggle to name any better.
Riding for such a yard brings its own pressure as for the majority of those rides you are expected to win and so get liitle credit when you do and slated to the moon if you get it wrong.
The thing I admire about him is his ability to put a dodgy ride behind him and move on although that is helped massively by being Mullins No.1 so more than likely he doesn’t have much time to dwell on things before another top rides comes along.
At the end of the day there are a number of jockey’s on both sides of the Irish Sea that are more than talented enough to do the top jobs but to me what marks the real cream of the crop out from the rest is the one who makes the least mistakes on the biggest stage when the pressure is at its upmost.
Townsend is fine but any jockey would look good riding for the Mullins yard , he,s done the hard job of following Ruby , also been helped by Rachel having a poor year , Russell retiring and Kennedy not being fit ( in all truth he,s prob very nearly finished to ) , if he stays fit he,s going to have a comfortable life for a few years yet , question is who is thankfully coming through to be the next Mullins jockey …..
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
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