Jody Townend becomes the first jockey to win the Echo Women in Sport award

LISGOOLD'S Jody Townend has joined an elite band of riders by winning a Grade 1 race aboard Redemption Day against the top amateur jockeys in the country. 

It capped off another incredible season as she claimed the Champion Female Amateur jockey award for the fourth consecutive season after riding 16 winners. 

But the undoubted highlight was ridding a first ever Grade 1 success aboard Redemption Day at the Punchestown Festival. 

Rarely do we see both men and women competing on the same playing field but Jody has steadily risen to the top of jump racing after overcoming a very serious injury along the way. 

From a family steeped in the game she takes it all in her stride but this major milestone was extra special.

"Winning a first ever Grade 1 race at the Punchestown Festival was just a massive day really and was something that you dream about as a kid growing up," Townend said.

 "It's great to get recognized for the victory especially back home in Cork and winning this award is very special. 

"I am a real homebird even though I’m based in Kilkenny. 

"I was sitting on ponies before I could walk really and it’s been an amazing journey to get to ride a horse like Redemption Day to victory and stand in the winners enclosure with a Grade 1 trophy. 

"It was a bit surreal if I am honest."

The Punchestown Festival follows on from the juggernaut that is Cheltenham and the Grade 1 bumper is always a red hot event. 

This year was no exception with the impressive Cheltenham Winner Jasmin De Vaux under Patrick Mullins while the Gordon Elliot trained duo of The Yellow Clay and Romeo Coolio were strongly fancied. 

But Jody Townend took it all in her stride before powering up the home straight for a famous victory. 

"Our preparation was ideal as we went to Fairyhouse and won so this race was the ideal next step. Getting Redemption Day settled was probably the key to this win. 

"So I just dropped him out the back and left the horse find his own rhythm. When you prepare for these big races there is more nervous excitement rather than nerves. 

"You just need everything to go right on the day between the horse and rider. 

"Obviously, I’m only very light and a horse would be close to 500kg so thankfully, we were on the same wavelength throughout."

The east Cork region is steeped in national hunt racing and the Townend family has had a long and successful association in the sport over many decades. 

Like all great champions that strive in any sport it was always going to be a life in racing. 

“My earliest memories are all about looking after horses and Homer was my first pony. 

"My Grandfather trained at my home place so we were always going to point to points, Showjumping, Eventing and attending race meetings. 

"I did play a small bit of Gaelic Football with Lisgoold which was fun but the horses were always number one.

”Success came pretty early in my career and my dad put me up on a horse called King Willy in a point to point at Thomastown, Co Kilkenny and we won. 

"During the summer holidays I went up to Willie Mullins where my brother Paul was and it all progressed from there really. 

"After finishing school I went back up and thankfully it all went from there.” 

Following a very nasty fall on the gallops Jody was faced with a long spell on the side lines. 

Horse racing is a very dangerous sport and injuries can finish off the career of any jockey. 

“When I broke my T12 vertebrae it was a serious injury. I had six screws and two rods put in and it got infected which was a very worrying time. 

"I was nine months injured which was tough enough. 

"I was only just back and Willie ( Mullins) put me up on Great White Shark and we won the big amateur handicap on the opening day of the Galway Festival. 

"This was huge and a great way to put the injury behind me. Princess Zoe winning the Ladies Derby on Derby weekend at the Curragh was another great day. 

"Port Rachid who is trained by my dad has provided me with four wins and is a real family pet. He provided me with my first winner on the track, over hurdles and over fences. He is now a 13-year-old now and ran at Tramore last week."

But the victory of Redemption Day will be fondly remembered in the Townend family for many years to come. 

Jody has proved herself to be an exceptional rider over the last few years but a maiden Grade 1 triumph in the Punchestown Champion Bumper was just rewards for her talent and endeavour. 

Despite his multiple Grade 1 successes across this record-breaking campaign, the champion trainer Willie Mullins was visibly thrilled and paid this tribute.

"It's fantastic for Jody and it's her first Grade 1 and Redemption Day was brilliant on the day," Mullins said.

"Jody does her own thing in her races and it works. 

"We often discuss plans but once the tapes go up, Jody just does what Jody wants to do – and invariably it works and she wins races.”