Some jockeys at certain tracks aren’t just good — they’re operating at a level that should make them automatic considerations. Our database of results since 2022 reveals the jockey-course combinations with the highest strike rates from a minimum of 40 rides.
The Headline: Moore at Chester
Ryan Moore at Chester: 21 winners from 44 rides — 47.7%.
That’s not a typo. Nearly every other horse Moore rides at Chester wins. The tight, undulating Chester track demands precision and experience, and Moore has both in abundance. When he books a Chester ride, the market knows it — but even accounting for short prices, that strike rate is extraordinary.
Paul Townend: Ireland’s Everywhere Man
Townend dominates Irish racing in a way that the numbers barely do justice:
| Course | Rides | Winners | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naas | 78 | 36 | 46.2% |
| Punchestown | 192 | 88 | 45.8% |
| Clonmel | 46 | 20 | 43.5% |
| Down Royal* | 60 | 25 | 41.7% |
| Leopardstown | 91 | 35 | 38.5% |
| Fairyhouse | 142 | 54 | 38.0% |
| Listowel | 55 | 20 | 36.4% |
*Jack Kennedy at Down Royal
The Willie Mullins–Townend axis is the most dominant force in jump racing, and these numbers prove it. At Naas and Punchestown, he’s winning nearly half his rides.
The British Specialists
Away from the Mullins juggernaut, there are British jockeys who’ve made specific tracks their own:
Harry Skelton at Newton Abbot — 14 winners from 40 rides (35.0%). The tight Devon track suits his aggressive riding style.
Charlie Deutsch at Ascot — 14 from 41 (34.1%). A surprising one — Deutsch has quietly built an excellent Ascot record.
Sam Bowen at Perth — 78 winners from 237 rides (32.9%). The ultimate course specialist, Bowen makes the long trip north pay off consistently.
Harry Cobden at Taunton — 48 from 146 (32.9%). Cobden’s West Country base means he knows every blade of grass at Taunton.
Rossa Ryan at Pontefract — 14 from 43 (32.6%). The quirky Yorkshire track rewards course knowledge, and Ryan clearly has it.
How To Use This
When you see one of these jockeys booked at their specialist course, take notice. A horse that might look ordinary on paper gets a genuine upgrade from a jockey riding at a 35%+ strike rate. It won’t make a no-hoper win, but in competitive handicaps, the jockey’s course knowledge can be the margin.
Check the jockey, check the course, then check your assumptions.