Much like racing fans, the sport’s leading riders look forward to the major race days broadcast by ITV Racing throughout the season. Thanks to the additional prestige and prize money, a win in a big Saturday event no doubt feels a little sweeter than a Tuesday triumph at a low-key meeting.
With the above in mind, we can rely on the jockeys to strain every sinew in pursuit of televised glory. However, the riders may have a little extra pep in their step during the 2024/25 campaign, courtesy of an exciting new initiative announced by Flutter Entertainment.
This week brought the news that the company behind betting titans Paddy Power, Betfair, and Sky Bet would launch the David Power Jockeys’ Cup (DPJC). Named in honour of Paddy Power co-founder David Power, who sadly passed away in July, the DPJC will award a whopping £500,000 to the rider who fares best in televised ITV races during the current campaign. To put that sum into perspective, 2023/24 champion jockey Harry Cobden earned “only” £257,119 through his share of the prize money in the season just gone.
How Does the Competition Work?
The DPJC kicked on the opening day of the Cheltenham November Meeting (Friday 15th November 2024), and concludes on the eve of the 2025 Grand National (Friday 4th April 2025), and encompasses all jump races broadcast on ITV over this period. Riders earn points according to their finishing position in all qualifying races, as follows:
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | 10 Points |
| 2nd Place | 8 Points |
| 3rd Place | 6 Points |
| 4th Place | 4 Points |
All points are added to a league table. The top 10 finishers win a prize, with the jockey in the top spot claiming a handsome £500,000. Additional prizes go to the yards that supply the top 10 riders with the most points during the competition and the top two Conditional Riders.
Optimism that Initiative will Increase Engagement
The DPJC represents Flutter Entertainment’s latest attempt to increase racing’s profile and improve viewer engagement. Hot on the heels of the Flutter-backed Champions: Full Gallop docu-series, a jockey-based competition to run in tandem with the biggest race days seems like a shrewd move. If all goes to plan, the DPJC should provide an entertaining human subplot to the equine action.
Flutter CEO Ian Brown outlined the potential benefits of this exciting addition to the National Hunt season when stating, “The David Power Jockeys’ Cup is a game-changer for Jumps racing, bringing fans closer to the action and celebrating the incredible skill of our jockeys.”
At a time of declining racecourse attendance and horse racing betting turnover (down 20% over the past two years), any project aimed at promoting the sport should be welcomed with open arms.
Jockeys Grant Seal of Approval
The impact of the DPJC on the general public remains to be seen. However, the announcement of the new competition received a ringing endorsement from many of the biggest names in the sport.
Reigning Champion Jockey (and favourite to lift the inaugural DPJC Trophy) Harry Cobden expressed his delight at the new competition, “This season is set to be very exciting, and I can’t wait to be part of the inaugural David Power Jockeys’ Cup. It’s a huge amount on offer, and I’m sure it will create some great competition as we’ll all be trying to win as many of those ITV races as we can.”
The sport’s leading female rider, Rachael Blackmore, backed up Cobden’s assessment, stating, “It’s great to see this level of innovation and investment in racing, particularly towards jockeys. The prizes on offer are incredible. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of the sport.”