PLACE YOUR ALPHABETS
Irish trainers aiming to dominate Prestbury wins again
THE 2024 Cheltenham Festival kicks off tomorrow and Ruby Walsh has given us his A to Z guide to the meeting.
Walsh has enjoyed more winning rides at the famous festival than anyone else. He will be at Prestbury Park this week in his capacity as a Paddy Power ambassador and TV analyst for ITV and Racing TV, as well as in his role working for the powerful Willie Mullins yard.
The legendary trainer is just six victories away from becoming the first ever person to train 100 festival winners – and Walsh is backing him to achieve the feat this week.
Here’s the 11-time champion jockey’s A to Z guide to this year’s festival.
A B C D ERuby Walsh
is for Absurde. Has yet to set the world alight over hurdles but might be worth watching in the County Hurdle. for Ballyburn. He runs in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday and he’ll be very hard to beat. is for Constitution Hill. He was the banker last year but he is not here this time around and it is a huge blow to his connections. for Dinoblue. Her form is rock solid and she sets the standard in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase. is for El Fabiolo. Looks like one of the Willie Mullins’ bankers of the week in the Champion Chase.
F
Fact To File. Seems to be getting better and better and will be very hard to beat in Wednesday’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
GK LGalopin Des Champs. The Cheltenham Gold Cup champion and I expect him to double up on Friday.
H is for Hewick. What a story it would be if he won the Gold Cup. And if he does, we mightn’t see the Shark for a month. I is for Ile Atlantique. He runs in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle after being narrowly beaten at Naas last time.
J for Jade De Grugy. She hasn’t put a foot wrong and she’s the one to beat in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle if you ask me. is for Kargese. She looks to be Ireland’s leading chance in the Triumph but it may well be a race which stays with the locals. for Lossiemouth. She’s already a Cheltenham Festival winner and she’ll be very hard to beat in the Mares Hurdle.
M N O Pis for Mullins. Not Willie but Patrick and Danny. Neither should be overlooked when trying to pick a winner. for Nicky Henderson. No Constitution Hill but Sir Gino looks to have a massive chance and the trainer looks sure to have another good festival. is for Ocastle Des Mottes. Didn’t fire in the Betfair Hurdle but might be worth a second chance next week. for jockey Paul Townend. He’s ridden 28 festival winners to date and plenty more are likely to follow this year.
Qis for Quai de Bourbon. If you’re looking for a Willie Mullins horse in a handicap, he might be the one.
R for Rachael. With Minella Indo and Envoi Allen to look forward to, it could be another profitable festival for racing’s leading lady Rachael Blackmore.
S is for Sa Majeste. Looks like one for the handicaps and will be a leading fancy wherever he lines up.
T for Teahupoo. Arguably unlucky in last year’s Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle but I fancy him to atone that defeat.
U is for Ultima. It’s a race Ireland don’t have a good record in but Meetingofthewaters might change that. for Victory. Something that I predict awaits Ireland in the Prestbury Cup again.
V W
is for Willie Mullins. He’s just six winners short of 100 Cheltenham festival winners. Can he do it? I think so.
X marks the spot. And the spot to be next week is in your local Paddy Power shop to take in all of the action.
Y Z
for You Oughta Know. Looks to be one of Willie’s better chances in the Champion Bumper. for Zenta. A female worth following wherever she takes her chance at the festival. ■ You can catch up with all of Ruby’s tips and thoughts on Cheltenham Countdown on Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast, while tickets are available for Paddy Power’s Cheltenham Fanzone at The Camden in Dublin this Friday.