As the days tick by in the build-up to the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, we are in for yet another fantastic show of racing in what is no doubt one of the greatest weeks in the British sporting calendar.
Over the four-day event, an estimated 260,000 people will come to witness the best horses, jockeys and trainers battling it out across 28 races at the iconic racecourse.
The excitement, anguish and elation will be felt by millions more watching from afar as the focus of the sporting world turns to horse racing.
Several jockeys who will be in action have become household names over recent years thanks to their success at the event.
But what about the stars behind the jockeys? Below, Mail Sport takes a look at the WAGs from Cheltenham…
The 2024 Cheltenham Festival gets underway next week and runs from Tuesday to Friday
Paul Townend enjoyed a fabulous Festival last year and big things are expected of him again
Paul Townend – Anna Paoletti
Paul Townend is one of the best jockeys out there at the moment, with the Irishman having ridden 28 Cheltenham Festival winners over his illustrious career.
As he hopes to add more winners to his tally next week, he will be cheered on by Italian girlfriend Anna Paoletti.
Horses are a key part of their relationship, with Paoletti an Equine Sport Therapist after moving to Ireland in 2005 to study in that field.
Equine Sport Therapists help injured horses recover through administering first aid, while they also implement rehab programmes and therapeutic techniques.
She is based in Kilkenny, where she lives with Townend and the couple own a small dog.
On the side of her work in equine therapy, Paoletti sells eco-friendly Italian cosmetics via her own online shop.
Townend is cheered on by his Italian girlfriend Anna Paoletti, an Equine Sports Therapist
Mark Walsh – Katie Young
Another multiple Cheltenham Festival winner to keep an out for next week is Mark Walsh, who, like Townend, sees his day job cross over into his relationship.
Walsh – son of trainer and racing pundit Ted Walsh – is the partner of Katie Young, who works as a trainer for Gordon Elliott Racing, one of the most renowned and successful yards in the sport.
In fact, the yard has trained two-time Grand National and five-time Cheltenham winner Tiger Roll.
Young is seen supporting Walsh at most of his events, and given their roles in the sport, they have been described as ‘The Romeo and Juliet’ of horse racing.
Mark Walsh and partner Katie Joung (pictured at Cheltenham in 2023) – who works as a trainer for Gordon Elliott Racing – have been described as the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ of horse racing
Keith Donoghue – Sarah Dempsey
Keith Donoghue has been candid when speaking about his share of ups-and-downs over his career, but the County Meath native is in good form heading into Cheltenham this time around.
The Irishman will be cheered on by his girlfriend Sarah Dempsey. Their relationship has generally been kept low key, but various snaps of the pair on holiday have been shared over recent times.
For example, they were seen skiing in the French Alps, while last year Donoghue posted a photo of them together on the coast in Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is in the luxurious Cote d’Azur region on the French Riviera.
Despite their seemingly blossoming relationship, let’s hope Dempsey – whose profession is unknown – doesn’t see an interview Donoghue gave to his local paper, the Meath Chronicle, back in 2020.
When asked what advice he would give himself aged 20, he simply replied: ‘Don’t get a girlfriend, live your life.’
Keith Donoghue will be cheered on by his girlfriend Sarah Dempsey at Cheltenham this year
Sean Bowen – Harriett Matthews
Welsh jockey Sean Bowen has been with girlfriend Harriett Matthews since 2016 and the couple certainly seem to have an active time in their relationship.
They have regularly been spotted jet-setting around the globe when Bowen is not riding, with the pair seen on holiday in the likes of Madrid, Kos and Mykonos, while they have also been skiing in France.
Matthews works for Paul Nicholls Racing, meaning this is another all-racing couple and they own a sausage dog called Dottie.
Welsh jockey Sean Bowen has been with his girlfriend Harriett Matthews for almost eight years
They have regularly been spotted jet-setting around the globe when Bowen is not riding
Bowen poured cold water over his chances at Cheltenham last week, insisting he may only compete on the opening day as he aims to continue his quest to become Champion Jockey.
‘With Cheltenham, it all depends what I get,’ he said on Sunday. ‘I will be there on the first day with Not So Sleepy, who would have half a chance if it came up really soft ground in the Champions Hurdle.
‘I’ll pick and choose from there. It could be Ffos Las or Fakenham on Gold Cup day. I need winners.’
Nico de Boinville – Serena de Boinville (Cookson)
Nico de Boinville is another jockey to watch out for next week and he married into a family of nobility, who also had a pedigree in the equestrian world.
De Boinville’s wife, Serena (maiden name, Cookson), is the granddaughter of the late Lord and Lady Hemphill.
Lady Hemphill was famous for breeding and founded the Tulira Connemara Pony Stud.
Her legacy has been continued by Cookson, who is now in charge of the Tulira stud and speaking in 2022, she explained why it’s so important to keep up her grandmother’s legacy in Ireland.
‘The reason we breed out of Ireland is a bit like growing grapes in France,’ she said.
‘You can grow those grapes well in England, but it won’t give the same result.’
Cookson married De Boinville in 2018 and they have one child together, who was born in July 2019.
Nico de Boinville married Serena Cookson, who is the granddaughter of the late Lord and Lady Hemphill, in 2018 and the couple have one child together
Rachael Blackmore – Brian Hayes
While the term WAG doesn’t apply to Rachael Blackmore’s partner, given her position as one of the top jockeys in the business, it is important to mention her situation.
Blackmore has won numerous accolades in her career and, like many others, her relationship crosses over into racing again, with Blackmore dating fellow jockey Brian Hayes.
Hayes originates from West Cork and has ridden for the likes of Emmet Mullins, Willie Mullins and the Bowe family.
Rachael Blackmore is going out with Brian Hayes, who is a fellow jockey from Ireland
Blackmore revealed in 2021 she lived together with Hayes (centre) and Patrick Mullins (right)
Speaking in 2021, Blackmore reflected on her relationship as she said: ‘I live with two other jockeys, Patrick Mullins and Brian Hayes. I am going out with Brian Hayes, so there are three of us here.
‘It is a great house to live in and it is in a really good location in Leighlinbridge. It is close to all the race tracks in Ireland .
‘We don’t talk about racing half as much as people might think, it is just a normal house when we come home.’
