Ruby Walsh will be bidding to be top jockey at this year's Festival.(credit:
Sleepless in Somerset)
Ruby Walsh 4/6 favourite to be crowned leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival for the fifth time in seven years
Ruby Walsh rode a record seven winners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and Boylesports have installed him as the 4/6 favourite to be crowned leading rider at this year’s Festival. Barry Geraghty – who won the prize in 2003 – is next best at 7/2 thanks to a number of strong rides for his boss, Nicky Henderson, while the champion jockey, AP McCoy, is 6/1 to win the award for the first time since 1998.
Others in with a chance are Davy Russell at 12/1, the currently sidelined Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton at 14/1 and Paul Carberry at 16/1. Nina Carberry has ridden a winner at each of the last three Festivals, but is the outsider of the pack at 100/1.
There are already a number of ante-post ‘bankers; at this year’s Festival, including Dunguib in the Supreme Novices, Master Minded in the Champion Chase, Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle and Kauto Star in the Gold Cup. Boylesports are betting on how many of these four horses win in March and the 5/4 favourite is that two prove successful. It’s 12/5 for just one to win, 11/4 for three, 12/1 for none and 18/1 that all four claim their prizes.
“Ruby is set to ride three of the four big ante-post bankers for Paul Nicholls and he will also pick up some strong rides from Willie Mullins.” comments Boylesports Spokesperson Nicola McGeady. “He only needs two more wins to overtake Pat Taaffe as the most successful post-war rider at the Cheltenham Festival and you wouldn’t want to bet against him doing that.”
Follow this link to Boylesports for information on how to get a free bet on this year's leading jockey market at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.
Leading Jockey
Who will be the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival?
Ruby Walsh 4/6
Barry Geraghty 7/2
AP McCoy 6/1
Davy Russell 12/1
Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton 14/1
Paul Carberry 16/1
Timmy Murphy 20/1
Richard Johnson 25/1
Jason Maguire 25/1
Paddy Brennan 25/1
Graham Lee 33/1
Nina Carberry 100/1
Others on request
The Bankers
How many of the following bankers will win at the Festival? Dunguib (Supreme Novices), Master Minded (Champion Chase), Big Buck’s (World Hurdle) and Kauto Star (Gold Cup)
None 12/1
One 12/5
Two 5/4
Three 11/4
Four 18/1