Four Jockeys That Are Still Looking For Their First Festival Winner

Leighton Aspell is dual Grand National winning jockey that has had a stellar career at the top of the sport for a long period of time.

This is why it comes at an even bigger shock to see him in this blog as he has never had a winner at the Cheltenham festival in his career.

Aspell won the National back in 2015 with Pineau De Re and the year before he landed it again with great Many Cloud who sadly passed away at Cheltenham a few years ago.

His best effort at the festival was when he finished a very close second in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett on the last day at Presbury Park when Deputy Dan in 2014 was leading heading up to the second last flight but unfortunately did not have the stamina.

The jockey has been in good form this season and will be looking to finally break his duck this year.

This female jockey has been a ray of sunshine for the sport and helping other female riders within the sport make a name for themselves this season is Rachel Blackmore.

Riding predominantly for Henry De Bromhead, she has had her best season to date and see's herself just in behind Paul Townend for the Irish Champion Jockeys title.

Blackmore has accumulated 12 rides in her career at the festival, but does not have a great record not finishing in the places or winning a race on all her starts.

However, with how well she has done this season it would not be a shock to see her in the winners enclosure at Prestbury Park.

One of the youngest jockeys at the festival this year is the exciting James Bowen who after only turning professional back in the summer 2017 has accomplished a lot over the jumps and more than some older riders.

Bowen's biggest achievement to date was when he landed the Welsh Grand National in 2018 with the oldest horse in the race Raz De Maree and from there his career has kicked on.

His best performance at the festival came when finishing second in the Ultima Handicap on the Tuesday being beat by Lizzie Kelly on Coo Star Sivola.

The 17 year old this season will be looking to get off the mark at Cheltenham and he has some great chances with Mister Fisher in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at 10/1 his best chance of the week.

Another name that you would not expect to be in this blog is Irishman David Mullins who in his career has ridden winners in some high profile races like the Punchestown Gold Cup on Bellshill and the Grade 1 Savills Chase on board Gold Cup bound Kemboy.

He is a very exciting jockey that will be part of the Willie Mullins brigade that heads the festival this season.

This season the jockey is set to definitely have a ride on one of the Willie Mullins Four Gold Cup hopefuls and this could be the perfect opportunity for the experienced jockey to finally get off the mark.