'Ready to ramp things up' - Jockeys to watch over Christmas Racing takes a brief break between Tuesday and Friday before the festive bonanza launches on St Stephen's Day. There are major meetings across Britain and Ireland across the weekend and into the New Year, with Kempton, Leopardstown, Aintree, Chepstow, Limerick, Newbury and Cheltenham all getting in on the act. Here we are focusing on five jockeys to look out for. Darragh O'Keeffe Darragh O'Keeffe enjoys a lead of six in the Irish jumps jockeys' title race heading into the busy Christmas programme. He picked up the baton as leading jockey for Henry de Bromhead following Rachael Blackmore's retirement in May and is making the most of it with 69 winners on the board so far this season. The likes of July Flower, Ace Brannigan, Bob Olinger, Monty's Star and The Big Westerner could be part of his Christmas plans and much more will be known about his title hopes come early January. Jack Kennedy Second in the jockeys' standings is Jack Kennedy after a red-hot month or so that included four-timers at Fairyhouse and Cork on major Sundays. Kennedy is riding out of his skin and oozing confidence in recent weeks and it certainly helps that his boss Gordon Elliott has caught fire. The duo are sure to be served by a huge number of horses over the Christmas programme in Ireland. Romeo Coolio, one of the most exciting novice chasers we have seen this season, heads for the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Friday, while Teahupoo, Brighterdaysahead, Koktail Brut and Gerri Colombe are some other big names Kennedy may partner. Paul Townend The champion jockey lags behind O'Keeffe and Kennedy by more than 20 winners but one feels Townend might be about to hit top gear. Many of Willie Mullins' horses have been taking a run to get going this season, but the Closutton colossus is surely ready to ramp things up. Gaelic Warrior, Ballyburn and Galopin Des Champs are some of the big-name established stars in line for a run at Leopardstown, while exciting novice chaser Final Demand heads to Limerick. Harry Cobden A third King George VI Chase could be on the agenda for Harry Cobden and he is relishing the opportunity to tackle Kempton's Boxing Day highlight on new mount Il Est Francais. With Paul Nicholls not having a runner in the King George this year, Cobden replaces James Reveley following the move to new trainer Tom George. Later in the week, Cobden could be riding No Drama This End in the final British Grade 1 of the season, the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. That is a race the mighty Denman won as a novice and Nicholls has compared the rising star to The Tank. Cobden had 25 winners in November, his highest monthly total in 2025, and is a man to watch over Christmas. Nico De Boinville The main man for Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows operation, Nico De Boinville got the perfect Christmas present as Impose Toi landed the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday under a confident ride. He's boasting a strike-rate of nearly 30 per cent in the month leading into Christmas and is going to be a busy man in the coming days. Sir Gino goes in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and soon after Arkle winner Jango Baie will tackle the King George - a race he's now jostling for favouritism in.
