Ruby Walsh: I'd still favour Honeysuckle over Constitution Hill

Ruby and Frank Hickey are on a special National Hunt Season Preview with Patrick Kennelly. Ruby rules the rule over the best of Willie Mullins’ runners for the season ahead and their likely targets along the way to the Cheltenham Festival 2023. Frank's on hand with his Welsh Grand National Trial fancy.

Ruby Walsh is worried about Allaho. Ruby would still prefer Honeysuckle over Constitution Hill.   for the King George Chase at Christmas. The John Durkan Chase in early December is too tight as a ‘stepping stone’ for Kempton. If they win it in December, they won't have time to recover for KingGeorge on December 26th.

Ruby Walsh would still favour Honeysuckle over Constitution Hill. Appreciate It and El Fabiolo will go chasing. Sir Gerhard is 50-50 with SirGerhard depending on schooling.

Ruby Walsh would still favour Honeysuckle over Constitution Hill.

Ruby Walsh would like to be riding in the Gold Cup again. Last year's race was run at a muddling pace. Ruby Walsh thinks the staying division this year could provide some great races. He would still favour Honeysuckle over Constitution Hill. The King George will be a good race, the Savills Chase at Leopardstown will also be good and the Cotswold Chase will build all the way to the Cheltenham Festival next March.

Ruby Walsh is unsure where Constitution Hill will go for the Champion Hurdle. Honeysuckle is the reigning Champion. Constitution won the Supreme Novice Huddle in a race that fell apart. Ruby Walsh thinks Honesuckle's time was slower than Constitution's.  Constitution Hill is a good horse but Ruby is not going to change her. She thinks she's outstanding. The Champion race suits both horses. They need to go through the season unblemished.

Ruby Walsh likes Facile Vega's performance at Punchestown Festival. Faciles is a good jumper and he's hugely exciting. He could run in either the Supreme Novices Hurdle or the Ballymore HURDLE. If he so wished, Ruby Walsh could drop him into the Albert Bartlett Novice HURLLE, which he could end up in after winning a maiden hurdle.

Champ Kiely is a proper horse. He was very good in Galway and bolted in Tipperary. Ruby Walsh reckons he will set a fair standard in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. If he wins the race, he'll go to Leopardstown for the Paddy Power Future Champions Novices HURT and then the Dublin Racing Festival in February.