The Championships: 'Gordon could really be licking his lips'

The championship counts all wins in National Hunt races in Ireland during the season. It culminates with the Punchestown Festival, where final positions are decided.

In previous years Paul Townend has been one of the dominant jockeys in Ireland, frequently battling with Jack Kennedy for the top spot.

As it stands (Friday, 2 January 10am):

Jack Kennedy - 74 winners

D. J. O’Keeffe - 74 winners

Paul Townend - 43 winners

Donagh Meyler - 32 winners

P. T. Enright - 26 winners

Tight at the Top

Speaking on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle Vincent Finegan shares his thoughts on the current standings “Jack Kennedy is now level in the jockeys championship with Daragh O’Keeffe.

“He was 30 odd winners behind. He's closed the gap.

“It's hard to see if Jack Kennedy stays fit and well to the end of the season, him getting caught by either. It's very hard to see Paul Townend catch that gap.”

Emma Nagle added: “Gordon's horses couldn't be going any better. Darragh has had a blazing start to the year.

“He gets an awful lot of outside rides but when you're going for the jockeys championship in Ireland, I suppose you're kind of relying on that big stable to prepare you and Henry's horses just hadn't been.

“He's always had that little bit of a lull in form this time of year.

“So I'd say if Jack can keep himself sound, it's going to be very hard to hold him off now at this stage when he's at a strong level already.

“And Paul's a good bit behind, but you never rule him out either.”

The Trainers’ Title

As with the Jockey Championship, the Irish National Hunt Trainers’ Championship title is crowned at the Punchestown Festival.

Gordon Elliott is currently leading the Irish trainers’ rankings for the 2025/26 National Hunt season in terms of both the number of winners and total prize money earned.

Despite not topping the table at the moment, Willie Mullins remains one of Ireland’s most dominant trainers historically.

Mullins has been crowned Irish Champion National Hunt Trainer 19 times, most recently in 2024/25, and is widely regarded as the most successful trainer in Irish jump racing history.

As it stands (Friday, 2 January 10am):

Emma Nagle speaks on Elliott’s mission

“He seems to be really gunning for the trainers championship this year. If he can keep up this momentum for even a few more weeks like Willie could have a job trying to peg him back.

“He's got some really nice young horses coming through as well. It'll be interesting to see how it goes.

“I suppose when we're talking after the Dublin Racing Festival, if it's still looking the same way, I'd imagine Gordon could be really licking his lips at the Trainers Championship.”

Emma Nagle reminds us that Mullins is a force: “Willie's horses will get going, I know we're saying now they're not running well, but he'll have them right probably by the Dublin Racing Festival if not before then. So Gordon probably needs to have the lead he has.”

Gordon preparing a team for Dublin

Emma Nagle continued: “He was interviewed after one of his winners at the weekend and he was saying he will probably have a bigger team for the Dublin Racing Festival this year.

“He might send the likes of Teahupoo and a few others. It's normally something that he bypasses but he doesn't really aim his big horses at it. He saves them for Cheltenham.”