THERE’S no catching Paul Townend in this year’s jump jockeys’ championship but the claiming professional riders’ title is still up for grabs.

Heading into the final week of the season just four winners separates the four leading ‘conditionals’ - Tiernan Power Roche, John Shinnick, Cian Quirke and Alex Harvey.

With 29 winners clocked up, Power Roche went into last night’s Kilbeggan meeting two in front of Shinnick but the race leader is suspended for the remainder of the season and so will have an anxious wait to see if any of his three rivals close the gap during Punchestown.

Shinnick said: “It won’t be easy to get a winner at Punchestown, never mind two, but we’ll grab as many chances as we can. Terence O’Brien [trainer] is my biggest supporter and I hope to ride Answer To Kayf and Whiskeywealth for him next week. I’m also in for the ride on Pray Tell for Des Kenneally. Whatever happens, I’ve had a great season. The bar has been set now and I’ll have to try and better it next year.”

Both Power Roche and Shinnick have enjoyed injury-free seasons, unlike Cian Quirke who missed three months last summer with a broken wrist.

“I’m just lucky to be getting such good opportunities,” Quirke said. “It’s an unbelievable season I’m after having, and I can’t believe how it’s after turning around since I came back from injury.

“Andy [Slattery] has some nice horses going to some of the festivals, so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards. The more doors you can open the better, so you wouldn’t know what might happen. I can do any weight and any rides I can get I’ll take.”

Alex Harvey stood himself down from last night’s Kilbeggan meeting due to a bout of food poisoning. He expects to be back in action at Punchestown but says he would be surprised if anyone catches the leader. “We’re all good friends and I get on particularly well with Tiernan, who I often sit beside in the weighroom. I think he has the title wrapped up.”

Harvey only turned professional at the start of the season and he rode his biggest winner to-date at Haydock in November when partnering the Charles Byrnes-trained Shoot First to success in a valuable handicap hurdle.