Cheltenham 2024: Ruby Walsh picks out seven horses to watch out for at the big meeting

Ruby Walsh is the most successful jockey ever at the Cheltenham Festival having ridden 59 winners until he retired to become a pundit for Racing TV

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.

STATE MAN - Unibet Champion Hurdle

It’s disappointing not to have Constitution Hill. He was one of the standout horses for the Festival. It does open it up for others. State Man sets a very good standard. Paul Townend is adamant he didn’t show his true running in last year’s Champion Hurdle. If that’s a below par State Man, that run is still good enough to win this year’s Champion Hurdle.

He’s going to be incredibly hard to beat. It will be all about State Man. His form is rock solid. Other than bumping into Constitution Hill his form is exceptional. It would have been a great rematch. State Man stands head and shoulders above all the others.

LOSSIEMOUTH -

Lossiemouth looks to be the one that has improved the most from four to five and hopefully she can improve again from five to six. She was very good in the Triumph last year. She beat Zarak The Brave in Punchestown. She was really good in the International Hurdle on Trials Day. The trip is the only unknown for her. She looks like a more relaxed mare this year. She has grown up mentally and physically. State Man and Lossiemouth are two short-priced horses but I think they are really hard to oppose.

JONBON - Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase

Like Paul Townend did with State Man, I’d say you could argue that Jonbon didn’t perform in last year’s Arkle. I was really impressed with him in the Shloer. I thought he was really good in the Tingle Creek. Things didn’t go right for him in the Clarence House but you can’t really write a seasoned horse off on one run.

I can excuse him his last start. I think there will be a really strong gallop here. The margin of error is so small and if there is one thing you could say about El Fabiolo is he’s not an exceptional jumper. I wouldn’t be brave enough to roll into El Fabiolo at 4-9.

FACT OR FILE - Brown Advisory Novices' Chase

I really do like him. The one thing you don’t know is will he stay. He was brilliant at the Dublin Racing Festival. I know it was a match but on time, the speed he was going, the way he was doing it, he looks an exceptional racehorse but he still has to show that he stays just beyond three miles. I think Broadway Boy and Stay Away Fay between them will find out if he does or doesn’t. If Fact Or File can be impressive here he will announce himself as a potential Cheltenham Gold Cup horse.

ENVOI ALLEN - Ryanair Chase

I think there will be a big field here and a competitive race. But if the ground does dry out and we get to good to soft or even a little bit better than that, I think Envoi Allen’s record at the Cheltenham Festival is incredible. He won the Bumper, the novice hurdle, fell in the novice chase and won the Ryanair. He is three from four at the Cheltenham Festival and I really like horses for courses, horses for meetings.

TEAHUPOO - Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

It’s Teahupoo versus the rest. He was slightly unlucky in this race last year. He has to have improved a bit and does look like he has. He was good at Fairyhouse when he beat Impaire Et Passe in the Hatton’s Grace. If you look at the rest of the horses, Crambo was only just in front of Paisley Park, Noble Yeats was only just in front of Paisley Park, Sir Gerhard has to prove he stays, Flooring Porter has been chasing and all of the rest you could throw a blanket over them in all their runs.

If Teahupoo has improved and he is clear of them he will be very hard to beat. Otherwise it will be a good jump or a bit of luck in running that is going to split the rest. Of those I’d probably be on Noble Yeats at 8-1 each way.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

I am with Galopin Des Champs. I have allegiances to the Mullins camp so I am not going to turn my back on him. He was brilliant last year. I thought he was spectacular in Leopardstown at Christmas. I thought he showed his superiority at the Dublin Racing Festival. I think three and a quarter miles really suits him.

There is no doubt Fastorslow is a faster jumper and he has beaten him twice at Punchestown. But I just think Galopin is a little bit better than Fastorslow. I do think they will be first or second. The interesting question is what finishes third? Corach Rambler could be the interesting one off a big price each way, but I think it will be Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow as they head to the second last. Last year it was Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame and I am hoping you see the same result.

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