Ruby has some real gems lined-up for Festival

STRONG FLOW, Back In Front, Azertyuiop, and plenty of others as well, ensure that no jockey will feel a greater sense of optimism facing into next week’s Cheltenham Festival than Ruby Walsh.

He is a leading fancy to emerge as the top rider and an extraordinary four days could see him win the three major prizes of the meeting, the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase.

But Walsh is a realist and, you suspect, that if one of the big three contests comes his way then that will do for him.