A familiar name is attracting attention of punters.
Davy Russell has one hand on the Irish jockey’s Championship this season having ridden over 100 winners. With just over a week until the big festival, betting has really started to heat up on the Top Jockey market, and Russell features heavily.
Ruby Walsh, who has claimed the award eleven of the last thirteen years, which includes a clean sweep for the last five seasons, has dominated the market. Quite rightly, Walsh is the odds-on favourite to make it six in a row, however with fitness concerns surrounding him punters don’t believe this will be the case in 2018.
Russell has ridden a winner at every Festival since 2006, and his eighteen victories include a Gold Cup in 2014. With the Irishman set to ride the likes of Presenting Percy, Mala Beach, Petit Mouchoir and Mick Jazz, he’s got plenty of chances to get on the scoreboard.
Since the beginning for the year, Davy Russell has been the most backed in the market, accounting for 29% of bets. He’s currently a best price of 10/1 chance to take the Cheltenham crown.
The second most backed has been Nico De Boinville, who is a 14/1 shot.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: “Ruby Walsh is yet to ride since November and so rightly there are lingering doubts over his condition.”
“Davy Russell has ridden over 100 winners already this season, and he could be the man to take advantage should Ruby not be up to his usual standard.”
