Echo Women in Sport: Jockey Jody Townend on course for more success

A first Cheltenham Festival winner and a fifth consecutive champion amateur lady riders title made this an extraordinary year so far for Lisgoold’s Jody Townend. 

In a never-to-be-forgotten afternoon at the home of jump racing, Jody beat the professional jockeys and stormed up the famous Cheltenham hill aboard Bambino Fever to join an elite group of riders. 

The pair followed up that victory by winning at the Punchestown Festival where the Cork woman received her trophy for being crowned champion amateur lady rider which brought the curtain down on another memorable campaign.

"Winning a fifth title is fantastic and this year was extra special. The pressure gets bigger every year when you are defending a title. To have a horse like Bambino Fever come along and win at the Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals is the stuff of dreams for any amateur jockey. 

I had never actually sat on the horse until Leopardstown, so she really is an unbelievable mare and we got on famously together.” 

Townend went to Cheltenham with a live chance, but the hustle and bustle of the Champion Bumper would test the riding skills of any seasoned professional jockey. She was coolness personified and recalls the race with great fondness in her relaxed demeanour. 

"Declan and Joe are two lads from Clare and Tipperary, and it is the first horse they bought. They really are great sport the pair of them. They showed great faith in me as they could have put up any one of the professional lads. 

"But after we won at Leopardstown the owners decided to keep the partnership intact. Willie (Mullins) likes to send the horses to Aintree Racecourse for a couple of days before they are brought down to Cheltenham Racecourse. 

RELAXED

"When we got down on the Wednesday morning, I got to see Bambino Fever, so she seemed nice and relaxed. I knew we had a chance, but it was a big ask for a filly taking on the geldings at the Olympics of jump racing.

"The race itself went completely to plan which is unusual in this game. Coming down the hill we were travelling so well so the last couple of furlongs you are just hoping and praying that something doesn’t come and pass you out. 

Crossing the winning post is hard to describe really, it’s just a dream come true for any jockey and to finally ride a winner at Cheltenham was surreal." 

Every winning rider walks down the famous chute in front of the massive grandstands with thousands cheering. The fact that Bambino Fever was one of the favourites always helps and the most famous walk-in jump racing was dreamland stuff.

"The horse was a big gamble on the day so there was plenty of happy punters cheering me back in. All the gang from Willie Mullins were there along the way back in which was great.

"But meeting the owners and all their supporters meant everything. Going back in to meet my dad, sister Caroline and brother Paul, several friends who travelled over. 

"One of my oldest friends from Lisgoold Jessica Leahy was at Cheltenham for the first time ever so she was definitely a lucky charm. Clodagh Ahern and a big crew from east Cork were also there so we had a bit of a celebration party that night. But I was back on the gallops the following morning bright and early. Bambino Fever backed it up then at Punchestown which shows how tough she is. Presumably she will go hurdling next season."

TRAGEDY

To be part of the Willie Mullins team is the place to be for any young rider. He has dominated the jump racing scene here as well as being crowned Champion Trainer in Britain for the last two seasons. Unfortunately, the national hunt season was marred by the tragic death of jockey Michael O’Sullivan who was very much a friend, colleague, and teammate of Jody at Clossutton. 

"It was a terrible tragedy and we used to see Mickey all the time even outside of working together at Willie Mullins. He lived closeby to us in Paulstown in Kilkenny. We travelled together to the races on a regular basis especially when we were both amateurs and we were good ole buddies. It was just so tough for everyone in racing but especially for his family." 

The non-stop nature of jump racing brought Jody back to the grassroots of the sport after Cheltenham and that included a couple of winners on the point-to-point circuit.

"I rode a lovely winner for my dad called Hows Hannah at a p2p at Ballynoe. 

It was a homebred and we had put in a lot of work with her so it's extra special when they can go and win. It was the week after Cheltenham so myself and dad got a great kick out of it. 

"She was sold a few weeks ago and will be trained by Willie Mullins next season. He is just an unbelievable trainer, and it will be very interesting to watch How’s Hannah progress up at Mullins yard." 

Following the completion of the jumps season it all starts all over again with a two-week break which begins this week. For Jody it is time to recharge the batteries and go again. 

"I will take a week away alright which is nice. When we get back the summer racing will be in full swing with all the big summer festivals like Killarney and Galway coming up. There are a few Lady Riders races at the big flat meetings at the Curragh so there might a couple of opportunities turn up there. 

"I’ll be at Willie Mullins yard from Monday to Friday so there is very little time for reflection in this game. It's all about finding the next winner and start again to defend my championship.”