Ruby has some real gems lined-up for Festival
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.
If you were to offer him his choice, there is no doubt he would take the Gold Cup. “My greatest ambition, ever since I was a kid, was to win the Gold Cup’’, said Walsh.
He partners Strong Flow for Paul Nicholls, who has overcome serious injury and who has been nursed back to full health by his canny handler.
“He is the horse I am really looking forward to riding’’, admitted Walsh. “It has been a very good training performance by Paul to get him back.
“He travels and jumps and is dead honest. I’ve never ridden a Gold Cup winner, so don’t know what’s required. But I think he could be good enough.’’
Strong Flow warmed up for Cheltenham with a length and a half second behind Farmer Jack in the Aon Chase at Newbury. Walsh made a lot of use of him then, tactics which were mildly surprising.
“That was Paul’s idea’’, confirmed Walsh.
“He has trained a Gold Cup winner and knows what is needed. I wanted to ride him the way I did when we won the Hennessy (2003) at Newbury, but Paul said no.
“His reasoning was that Strong Flow needed a hard race before Cheltenham. He was 100% right and that is why he is a great trainer.
“I always look at the bigger picture but, on this occasion, his picture was bigger than mine!’’
Edward O’Grady has booked Walsh for strongly-fancied Back In Front in the Champion Hurdle.
“I sat on him at Mr O’Grady’s the other day’’, said Walsh. “He is a very good hurdler, it is the top bar all the time and the right man is training him.
“I am looking forward to riding Back In Front, he is a very good ride to get, but whether he will beat Hardy Eustace or not I don’t know.
“I hold Hardy Eustace in high regard and have always thought he was a Grade One horse. He’s been to Cheltenham twice and won twice.’’
For many the race of the meeting will be the Champion Chase. Walsh partners last year’s winner, Azertyuiop, against Moscow Flyer, successful the previous year, with up-and coming Well Chief now tossed into the mix.
Moscow Flyer beat Azertyuiop and Well Chief fair and square at Sandown in early December and Walsh is making no rash predictions about reversing the placings. “Azertyuiop and Well Chief have to improve from Sandown to beat Moscow Flyer’’, he said realistically.
“I wouldn’t swap my horse for anything and he is unbeaten in three races round Cheltenham. One jump could decide this race, you just cannot afford a mistake. I wouldn’t be surprised, given good ground, if the track record was broken.’’
Walsh has a healthy opinion of his Triumph Hurdle mount, Cerium, who came right back to form with an easy victory at Wincanton last time.
“He’s a gorgeous horse, a fine big four-year-old, I wouldn’t mind riding him in the Arkle. He’s always impressed me and has a great chance. But trying to pick the winner of the Triumph is a bit like finding six numbers in the lotto.’’
The Wille Mullins trained Missed That has been all the rage for the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper, following a sparkling bit of work after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Walsh, who rode him then, refuses to get carried away. “He would have had to beat the horses he worked with, as Willie said they are two and a half mile plus horses’’, reported Walsh.
Nevertheless, there is little doubt he thinks Missed That is well capable of a big run. “James Nash and Jamie Codd have done a great job with him at home.
“He is able to settle, can quicken up and go between horses.’’ Worried about the possibility of good ground? “Willie and the two boys believe he will be even better on better ground and I’m not going to argue with them.’’
Walsh rides Publican for Pat Fahy in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, a horse put up by Pricewise in the Racing Post and a fair ante-post gamble.
“I rode him the wrong way when he was third to Satoha at Leopardstown’’, said Walsh. “I rode him as a stayer and he’s all speed.’’ Held up off the pace next time, he scored in a canter at Naas. “The one worry I have is his lack of experience.’’
He is looking forward to the first four-day Festival. “I love Cheltenham, if it was five days I wouldn’t be complaining.’’
His bet of the week? “I am a huge fan of Baracouda (Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle). From my own point of view Paul (Nicholls) is mad about Strong Flow and Willie (Mullins) is mad about Missed That. I will go with the two of them.’’
And what would constitute a good week for Ruby?
“Whenever you finish second you always feel you could have done better’’, is the response.
“To ride a winner and no mistakes, not to come back in feeling I made a right balls of that.’’
