Who will win at Cheltenham? Ruby Walsh gives his big race predictions

Since Ruby Walsh hung up his whip at Punchestown in 2019, Irish trainers have raced to within one of Walsh's record of 59 career winners at the Cheltenham Festival.

Irish horses are expected to dominate the 28 races next week but Walsh reckons the final outcome will be tighter than the bookies think.

The former ace pilot believes Constitution Hill will win the Champion Hurdle; Edwardstone is his choice in the Champion Chase, and he gives Bravemansgame a fighting chance to deliver a record-equaling fifth Gold Cup for Paul Nicholls.

Walsh suspects the bulk of the nine handicap races 'could go Britain's way' as 'the handicapper is definitely doing his best to make the races as competitive as he can.'

'People will say he's giving the British-trained runners a chance, but it's his job to make them competitive and have all horses finishing in a line.'

Where Walsh feels the 'wheel has yet to turn' for English runners is their dearth of novices.

The more good young horses there are, the better chance they can develop into good older horses. And it's here where Irish trainers hold the high ground.

'Until you get strong numerical fields in novice hurdles, you won't get them (UK trainers) having strong novice chases that can provide more numbers in graded races down the line.'

The Irish novice Walsh expects to light up Cheltenham is the Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe in Wednesday's Ballymore Hurdle, which is his nap of the meeting.

Here's Walsh's exclusive insight into the major championship race on each of the four days.

Champion Hurdle (Tuesday, 3.30pm)

'I was fully in the Honeysuckle camp last November. But as winter progressed, and Constitution Hill was spectacular in the "Fighting Fifth" and so professional in the Christmas Hurdle, from being on the fence I'm fully converted to the Constitution Hill camp. I think he's spectacular.

'State Man has improved all year and in his work at home he looks like he's improved again. But the bar Constitution Hill is setting looks so high. I don't see how State Man beats him.

'Every option is open to ride Constitution Hill.

'You can make the running, drop him in, go down the inside, down the outside, just don't go the wrong course.'

Champion Chase (Wednesday, 3.30pm)

'Leaving Cheltenham last year, I thought that if Energumene could come back in the same form he'd win the Champion Chase again. Edwardstone was an eight-year-old winning the "Arkle." Could he be any better at nine? I didn't think so.

'Edwardstone impressed me in the "Tingle Creek" at Sandown and I think he's better than he was this time last year. He ran a belter in the "Clarence House" at Cheltenham in January.

'Tom Cannon rode him as I would have ridden him, following Energumene, who didn't run his race.

'Going back to the Old Course, riding him like he did in last year's "Arkle", I think he'll be very hard to beat.'

Stayers Hurdle (Thursday, 3.30pm)

'I think the outcome revolves around what rain falls. If we get rain, Teahupoo will take a lot of beating. If we don't, I think Home By The Lee will benefit. I've been impressed by him this year. He's an improving horse and Joseph O'Brien's strike rate with jumpers this winter has been incredible.

'Flooring Porter will try to join the greats by winning this race for the third time. Cheltenham suits him and he's the pace in the race, but I haven't fancied him the last two years and I don't particularly fancy him this year either.

'If you're involved in owning, training or riding Flooring Porter, that's probably a good omen!

'The concern over Blazing Khal the last couple of days has to be an issue. '

Gold Cup (Friday, 3.30pm)

'I thought A Plus Tard was an incredibly good Gold Cup winner but what he's achieved this season isn't a positive.

'You have to forgive a lot for his Betfair Chase run and we haven't seen him since November. The noises from the yard are positive but on form he's hard to fancy.

'I didn't have Bravemansgame down as a Gold Cup horse until I saw him win the "King George", seeing him go toe-to-toe with L'Homme Presse and outstaying him.

'Galopin Des Champs is a really classy type. Since his fall in the Turners Novices' Chase last year he's been foot-perfect.

'He looks a million dollars and could gallop straight out of the racecourse into the middle of Cheltenham town. You might find him in Gloucester, he'd gallop that long.

'These three will hopefully make it a brilliant race. I hope Galopin Des Champs is the one who steps up and wins it.'

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