Walsh looks the real McCoy
It only hits you as surprising on the basis that one always expects McCoy to head any table in which he is involved.
But the world is changing. The irrepressible McCoy hasn’t lost any of his skill, dash or courage, but in Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty he faces two opponents who are regarded as very much on a par with him.
It isn’t mere coincidence that Paul Nicholls currently leads Martin Pipe in the contest to be champion trainer cross-channel.
For years Pipe simply annihilated all his rivals and Nicholls realised that, to have any chance of taking him on, he had to level the playing pitch somewhat.
Nicholls has steadily improved the quality of his horses, but he knew that simply wouldn’t be enough.
Enter Ruby Walsh and a continuous criss-crossing of the Irish Sea for the young man. It has worked out perfectly, as Walsh, somehow, has managed to keep both Nicholls and his powerful Irish stable of Willie Mullins at least reasonably happy.
Cashmans make Walsh their 5-2 favourite for Cheltenham, followed by Geraghty (3-1), McCoy (7-2) and Richard Johnson (8-1).
Walsh has a powerful book of rides, headed by second favourite Azertyuiop in the two mile Champion ’Chase.
He also has Thisthatandtother (9-4 favourite, Cashmans) in the Arkle Trophy, Rigmarole (11-2 second favourite) in the Champion Hurdle, Sadlers Wings in whatever novice hurdle Mullins decides is right and the choice of other Paul Nicholls novices, such as Cornish Rebel and Garde Champetre.
As well as that one would expect Walsh will have the pick of Mullins’ extraordinary team for the Festival Bumper and there will, of course, be numerous spins in handicaps. That’s why he’s a worthy market-leader.
Geraghty isn’t far behind. Moscow Flyer (evens, Cashmans) will be his banker in the Champion ’Chase.
He also has Keen Leader (Gold Cup), Pizarro (SunAlliance Novices ’Chase), Kicking King (4-1 second favourite, Arkle Trophy), Spirit Leader (Champion Hurdle) and Iris’s Gift, second favourite, behind Baracouda, for the Stayers’ Hurdle. And there will be lots more.
Coupling Walsh and Geraghty would see you betting a shade of odds-on that one of them will do the business.
It won’t cause the layers any loss of sleep. They know no matter how strong your book of rides on paper this is the place where anything can happen.
Geraghty was leading jockey a year ago with five winners, but only Moscow Flyer was in any way what you could describe as entirely predictable.
Who would have believed he would land three handicaps, with Youlneverwalkalone, Inching Closer and Spirit Leader, or that he’d partner Spectroscope to a 20-1 success in the Triumph Hurdle?
As we edge ever closer to the Festival, there seems to be a growing confidence our challenge isn’t as weak as a lot of us feared a couple of weeks back.
My own gut-feeling is if we have four winners, or more, this will be an extremely successful Cheltenham.
Moscow Flyer will be burdened with the hopes of the nation in the Champion ’Chase and we have to be long odds-on to land the Bumper.
I hope Sadlers Wings runs in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, rather than the five furlongs longer SunAlliance. If he does then he will carry the loot from this quarter.
Noel Meade’s Harchibald has made a late dash for consideration as a real Irish possibility in the County Hurdle.
He was still available at some fancy prices earlier this week, but I’ll predict now, if he gets in, will go off a warm favourite.
Having his first outing since October, Harchibald absolutely bolted away with a Leopardstown handicap on Sunday.
You would have to think he will have a serious chance, under just a mandatory 4lbs penalty.
A Cheltenham banker! Inglis Drever if he is kept to novice company in the SunAlliance, rather than taking on the big boys in the Champion Hurdle. He’s a racehorse.
