Top Tips from Paddy Power
I DON’T know if it’s wise or not to have your best bet of the week in the very first race, but I do think that VAUTOUR is banker material.
I have a feeling that the race is going to be a carbon copy of last year with Ruby Walsh in front on Vautour with speed horses like Irving travelling well behind him. Ruby’s will keep finding up the hill and the others will crack one after the other.
That’s even without mentioning the insurance policy that is our big Cheltenham special – Money back on second, third and fourth in the race. Presuming he jumps around it is nailed on that Vautour finishes in the first four at least!
Rock On Ruby is the classiest in the Arkle for me and he’ll make it 1-1 for the English. The Champion Hurdle comes down to jockeys – the two best at Cheltenham are Geraghty and Ruby. Hurricane Fly is the best horse in the race and Walsh is the best jockey so he’ll win and Jezki will be second for Geraghty.