Top Jockey – Cheltenham 2018 Tips

Ruby Walsh is set to return to action at Thurles on Thursday with a view to continuing his record of never missing a Cheltenham Festival since he began riding. There’s no surprise that Walsh is the odds-on favourite to be Champion Jockey next week, but maybe there’s value elsewhere.

The Case For Ruby
If I was fortunate enough to have a horse running at Cheltenham or an ordinary meeting in Cork and had a free pick of any jockey to ride it, there’s no doubt you’d pick Ruby.

We are spoilt with so many good jockeys in Ireland, both young and old, but Ruby still sits at the top of the pecking order.

Ruby once again has the pick of some brilliant horses that come under the care of Champion Trainer Willie Mullins but there may lie the problem. The choices may not be that straightforward. If he picks, Faugheen, will Yorkhill win? When he’s riding Douvan, will they be passed by Min in the Champion Chase? Can Djakadam grind down Un De Sceaux in the Ryanair and so on?

It’s a great position to be in but there’s enough 4/6 chances running next week without plunging into Ruby as well.

Davy’s Year?
For a small investment maybe a better bet would be Davy Russell. Russell will share the Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown rides with Jack Kennedy so both men will have a strong hand and Kennedy is slightly shorter in the betting, but Russell is 9/1 to be the leading jockey next week.

While he may not go home with a stack of championship races under his belt, Russell has a number of good rides like Presenting Percy, Bless The Wings, De Plotting Shed and Felix Desjy to name just a few and he has the ability to pick up some good spare rides too so he’d be worth an interest.

*Prices correct at time of publication.