Paul Townend (born 15 September 1990) is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Townend comes from Midleton in County Cork and rides primarily for the stable of Irish trainer Willie Mullins. Townend has worked for Mullins since beginning his career as an apprentice flat racing jockey. He was Irish jump racing Champion Jockey for the 2010–11, 2018–19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
In 2019 he gave Willie Mullins his first Cheltenham Gold Cup winner with Al Boum Photo, he repeated this success in 2020. Following the retirement of Ruby Walsh, Townend became the number one jockey to the Mullins yard.