Inside Paul Townend’s life with girlfriend as star jockey prepares for Cheltenham Festival 2024 with Willie Mullins
IRISH JOCKEY Paul Townend will be looking to win the Leading Jockey crown once again at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins' number one rider took the crown back in 2020, 2022 and 2023 after bagging multiple winners.
Townend rode Galopin des Champs to Gold Cup glory last year and will be hoping for a similar showing this week.
And ahead of the Festival, SunSport takes a look inside Townend’s life with girlfriend Anna Paoletti:
Who is Paul Townend's girlfriend?
His partner Anna is an Equine Sport Therapist, and she is from Italy.
Equine Sport Therapist administer first aid to horses following injury.
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They also plan and implement optimum rehabilitation programmes and apply therapeutic techniques including sports massage.
Where is Paul Townend from and how old is he?
Paul is originally from Midleton in country Cork, and primarily rides for the stable of Closutton maestro Mullins.
The multiple Irish jockey of the year winner currently resides in Kilkenny with Anna and the couple also have a little dog.
33-year-old Townend competes on the national hunt and started his career working for Mullins as an apprentice.
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What horse will Paul Townend be riding at Cheltenham 2024?
Willie Mullins revealed last week which horse Paul Townend is likely to ride in the Supreme - and where Ballyburn will run.
The Closutton trainer ended weeks of speculation when telling Sporting Life that Ballyburn will race in the 2m5f Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.
The Grade 1 winner was last seen storming home over two miles at last month's Dublin Racing Festival.
The time before that he won by 25 lengths in a 2m5f race at Leopardstown.
But despite his keen-going nature, Mullins has settled on the longer race, with the money for the horse on the Betfair Exchange a strong indicator in the days before Mullins made it official.
He said: "Mystical Power will run in the Sky Bet Supreme and Ballyburn, all being well, will run in the Gallagher."
Mullins also let slip who his No1 jockey Townend will likely ride in the opener.
The 2m hurdle race has been split wide open with Ballyburn's defection.
It could turn into a straight shoot out between Mystical Power, who has been ridden by Mark Walsh in his two wins over hurdles, and Gordon Elliott's Firefox.
They are both 3-1 but it looks like Townend will get the leg up on Cheveley Park Stud's Tullyhill.
The 4-1 chance thrashed No Flies On Him by nine lengths when last seen last month in a Listed hurdle at Punchestown.
Prior to that he won by seven lengths at Naas but was from fluent over his obstacles.
And his debut was a disaster, being pumped 24 lengths by Shannon Royale when sent off 1-8 in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown.
Townend has ridden Tullyhill in all three of his hurdles races and Mullins said: "Paul Townend will probably ride Tullyhill in the Supreme."