IF YOU LOOK at the list of leading jockeys at the Cheltenham festival over the last ten years, it reads as a who’s who of Irish National Hunt racing.
Ruby Walsh – 36 winners
Barry Geraghty – 27 winners
AP McCoy – 16 winners
Basically, if you stick your hard earned cash on an Irish jockey, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll come out smiling. With that in mind, here are the leading contenders for the top prize at this year’s festival.
Ruby Walsh
Walsh has emerged as top jockey in seven of his last ten visits to Prestbury Park and is odds on favourite to do so again this year on board the likes of Quevega, Hurricane Fly and Annie Power.
Best chance: Quevega is known as the Queen of Prestbury Park and with good reason. With five wins on the spin in the Mares’ Hurdle under her belt, few would bet against the pairing celebrating the joy of six.
One to watch: Hurricane Fly has been very kind to punters over the years and with a world record 19 grade one wins already, the Champion Hurdle at this year’s festival would be a fitting 20th victory.
Top jockey odds: 4/9
Barry Geraghty
There’s no doubt Geraghty’s drive to be top jockey has been thwarted by the absence of Simonsig and Sprinter Sacre but he still have some potential winners.
Best chance: Bobs Worth set out his stall under Geraghty this season when the pair claimed the Lexus Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. If he can quicken like he did that day, Geraghty should be celebrating back-to-back Gold Cups.
One to watch: It’s very difficult to pick any other horse in a race that contains Hurricane Fly but if anyone else is to make their way to the winner’s enclosure, Geraghty will be hoping it can be the Jessica Harrington trained Jezki.
Top jockey odds: 5/1
Tony McCoy
The current RTÉ Sports Personality of the Year, McCoy has won 29 times around Cheltenham but hasn’t claimed the top jockey prize in nearly 15 years. However, that won’t stop many punters looking for his name on the race card before placing their bets.
Best chance: He may have unseated McCoy last time out, but the multiple-time champion jockey is very keen on Carlingford Lough in the RSA Chase on Wednesday and that’s good enough for us.
One to watch: After winning six races as a novice hurdler last year, big things were expected of At Fishers Cross but this season has not been as kind to the JP McManus-owned gelding but he’s not without a chance in the World Hurdle.
Top jockey odds: 6/1
Bryan Cooper
The 21-year old burst onto the National Hunt scene last year when he finished second to Ruby Walsh in the race for top jockey at the festival; his three wins falling one short of Walsh’s winning total. He followed up his Cheltenham success with a fourth place in the Aintree Grand National before a broken leg cut his season short.
Best chance: As well as tasting success in the Irish Arkle, Trifolium has pedigree around Prestbury Park having finished a close third in the 2012 Supreme Novices. If Cooper is to challenge for top jockey honours this year, this would be a good place to start.
One to watch: It’s eight years since an Irish trained horse won the Gold Cup but Last Instalment represents the country’s best hope this year, especially after taking the Hennessey at Leopardstown in such style last month.
Top jockey odds: 14/1
It’s hard to look beyond Ruby Walsh for the top prize, even if the odds are prohibitive but we’ve a sneaky suspicion Bryan Cooper will give him another run for his money this year.
Disagree? Of course you do so let us know why in the comments below.
