Ruby Walsh rode more winners than any other jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with 59 successes until he retired in 2019 and became a television pundit.
Now working for RacingTV he shared his thoughts on some of the major races and contenders for next week's four day meeting.
CONSTITUTION HILL - Unibet Champion Hurdle
"I was fully still in the Honeysuckle camp last November, but as the winter progressed and Constitution Hill was spectacular at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth, and was just so professional in the Christmas Hurdle, from being on the fence I am now fully converted to the Constitution Hill camp. I think he is a spectacular racehorse.
"State Man has improved all year, from the County to Punchestown, to the Morgiana, then to Leopardstown. Even his homework since looks like he has improved again. It’s just the level that Constitution Hill is setting looks so high that I think it will be very hard. I don’t see how State Man beats him."
IMPAIRE ET PASSE - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
"I am a big fan of this horse. He won a 2m3f hurdle in Leopardstown, he dropped back to win the Moscow Flyer over 2m when he beat The Model Kingdom. I was impressed he had the speed to do it at Punchestown. I think a turn of foot is key to winning the Ballymore.
"Good Land is a huge runner, Champ Kiely was a winner of the Lawlor’s at Naas. You can see Champ Kiely making the running with Danny Mullins doing what Danny Mullins does in front - he is always a danger to the opposition. It will be a cracking race but I am most certainly with Impaire Et Passe."
GERRI COLOMBE - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
"It’s a three horse race. Gerri Colombe, Sir Gerhard and The Real Whacker would be the big three for me. I would be in the Gerri Colombe camp. He’s not impressive but he doesn’t lose. He’s turned up every day and only wins by as much as he has to, whatever the grade is. That will help Gerri Colombe to last for a long time in his career as well. I was impressed with him at Sandown. I can’t see Cheltenham being any drier than Sandown. Sir Gerhard was the best novice hurdler but he only has one run over fences."
EDWARDSTONE - Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
"I thought last year Energumene, if he was in the same form, would win a second Champion Chase. I didn’t think Edwardstone could be any better as a nine-year-old. Energumene won at Cork but Edwardstonre impressed me in the Tingle Creek.
"As mad as it sounds I think he is a better horse now than he was this time last year. He unseated in the Desert Orchid and he ran an absolute belter in the Clarence House. He did incredibly well to make up the ground. Ridden like he was in last year’s Arkle he is going to be very hard to beat."
SHISHKIN - Ryanair Chase
"I think this is Shishkin’s race to lose. From a viewer’s or fan’s point of viewI thought he was magical to watch in Ascot. To watch him jump and land on the bridle, to travel, to be completely in his comfort zone and be so dominant was wonderful.
"It was wonderful to watch a brilliant horse doing that and I fully expect that’s what he will do in the Ryanair too. I think going up in distance has been the making of him. He’s a year older and it definitely suited him better."
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
"I thought A Plus Tard was an incredibly good Gold Cup winner last year, but when you look at what he’s achieved this year, it’s nothing. You have to forgive a lot for his run in November but we haven’t seen him since. I didn’t have Bravemansgame down as a Gold Cup horse until I watched him win the King George.
"Since he fell in last year’s Turners, Galopin has been foot perfect. He is more relaxed, more professional, he looks like he would gallop all day. Those are three very classy horses and for me one of those three is going to win the Gold Cup and I am hoping that it’s Galopin Des Champs."
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