Fifth favourites Nico De Boinville and Paul Townend are closest to breaking the Irish stranglehold.
The top four favourites for Cheltenham top jockey 2019 are all Irish, as the Emerald Isle looks set for another festival full of top awards.
Last year’s top jockey Davy Russell has been usurped by three of his compatriots at the top of the market, with Ruby Walsh installed as the 2/1 clear favourite with multiple bookmakers.
Kerry’s Jack Kennedy and Pelletstown’s Barry Geraghty are joint-second favourites in the hunt for top jockey, both touted as 5/1 shots.
Despite scooping the honours last year with winning rides on Presenting Percy and Balko Des Flos, Russell is a lofty 6/1 to repeat his heroics this festival.
The Irish domination is that strong, that you have to go all the way down to the joint-fifth in the bookies’ pecking order to find a non-Irish hopeful.
Both Paul Townend and Nico De Boinville are the closest to infiltrating the Irish favourites, both penned as 10/1 shots for the prestigious honour.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: “Ruby Walsh is always a solid favourite for this market a he will always be able to ride the cream of Willie Mullins' crop.
“Nicky Henderson has a strong hand this year so Nico de Boinville could be a popular each-way shout, but he will have to share some top rides with Barry Geraghty.”
