Cheltenham tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s pick for top jockey at 2021 Festival

Mick Fitzgerald looks ahead to an always-popular market

Mick Fitzgerald

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

The Cheltenham Festival is almost here, and the bets are starting to pour in as punters predict which rider will finish top of the pile in 2021.

The competition to be Top Jockey is always fierce, but things will look a bit different at Prestbury Park this year with Barry Geraghty joining our very own Ruby Walsh in retirement and Davy Russell sidelined due to injury.

That leaves Paul Townend as the market leader with the 30-year-old set to have the pick of Willie Mullins’ stable, but Mick Fitzgerald is tipping up a rival to challenge the Closutton No 1.

Cheltenham Festival: Dates, race times and antepost tips from our experts

Top Jockey – Jack Kennedy

“Paul Townend is a very short price. He’s the most likely winner in this market, but he has some very tricky choices to make over the week so that might make it very difficult for him,” said Mick, who rode 10 Cheltenham Festival winners during his career.

“He might not always get it right. Jack Kennedy has some really good rides all week. Envoi Allen and Ballyadam are among his best rides of the week.

“He’s available at good value going into the Festival, and come the end of day two, we could be looking at a very different market for the top jockey.”

Envoi Allen Jack Kennedy Punchestown January 17, 2021

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Kennedy already has five festival winners under his belt, steering Labaik to success in the 2017 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before claiming four victories a year later – including the Ballymore and the Triumph Hurdle aboard Samcro and Farclas respectively.

As well as Envoi Allen and Ballyadam, Kennedy is set to partner a third Cheveley Park Stud-owned horse in the form of Quilixios for a tilt at either the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle or the Triumph Hurdle this year.

Kennedy will also ride Galvin in the National Hunt Chase while the 21-year-old is expected to have plenty of other bookings throughout the week including potential partnerships with Abacadabras and Delta Work, but will it be enough to beat the likes of Townend, Rachael Blackmore and Nico de Boinville?

Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey odds

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL‘S BIG RACES

March 16 – 13.20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 16 – 13.55 – Arkle Chase latest odds and tips

March 16 – 15.05 – Champion Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 16 – 15.40 – Mares’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 17 – 13.20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 17 – 13.55 – Festival Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips

March 17 – 15.05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase latest odds and tips

March 17 – 16.50 – Champion Bumper latest odds and tips

March 18 – 13.20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips

March 18 – 14.30 – Ryanair Chase latest odds and tips

March 18 – 15.05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 19 – 13.20 – Triumph Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 19 – 14.30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips

March 19 – 15.05 – Gold Cup latest odds and tips

March 19 – 16.15 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase latest odds and tips

*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.

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