Bookies have priced up the different options for the Festival’s most decorated jockey.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the few prizes of note that Willie Mullins is yet to win. It’s likely, therefore, that the illustrious trainer will be looking to star jockey Ruby Walsh to change that.
There are a few horses in the running for this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup that are the likely contenders for two-time winner Ruby Walsh and Paddy Power have priced up the likelihood of each.
The most likely candidate is Bellshill, priced at 1/3 to be ridden by Walsh, and a 14/1 shot to win. The leading hope for Mullins in the Gold Cup, he impressed recently when beating Road To Respect on the line in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in what was a beautifully timed ride from Walsh.
If Mullins elects not to go with Walsh on his star runner, Al Boum Photo would be the most likely option according to the odds. Priced at 5/2 to be ridden by the 39-year-old, he is 16/1 to win. Having won the Ryanair Novices Chase at Fairyhouse last April, the seven-year-old was withdrawn from the Irish Gold Cup recently but looked in good shape on his single start this season.
Finally, there is a possibility that Walsh rides Kemboy in the Cheltenham showpiece. An outside shot at 8/1, bookies don’t think it’s likely he will be aboard the seven-year-old, despite him being one of the shortest prices in the market at 10/1. This price is mainly down to a storming 7 ½-length victory in the Savills Chase after Christmas.
The Festival’s most successful jockey with a total of 58 wins, Ruby Walsh has finished up as the meeting’s leading rider 11 times and is 3/1 to be the top jockey this year.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek: "Ruby Walsh hasn’t won it since he rode the legendary Kauto Star to his second Gold Cup triumph in 2009, so will be eager to taste another victory in Cheltenham’s most coveted contest.
"Bellshill is the obvious choice after Ruby gave him an exquisite ride to pinch the Irish Gold Cup from Road To Respect but Kemboy is an interesting option after breezing to victory in the Grade 1 three-miler at Leopardstown in December."
