Asides from betting on all of the big horse races during Cheltenham festival many punters are keen to have side bets on which rider will come out on top and win the Gold Cup. I have put together a shortlist of who is more capable of playing a hand in both to hopefully have a long-term interest over the Cheltenham Festival. Ruby Walsh dominated this market up until he announced his retirement last season. It could therefore pay to look at some jockeys on the rise and not just the most obvious. Usually it takes a horse racing jockey to ride anywhere between four and seven winners at the meeting to capture the trophy and it will all be decided prior
Top Horse Racing Jockeys
Paul Townend – Paul will have a battalion of decent horses at his disposal this year and Willie Mullins will have a power packed team to bring over. He does only have a strike rate of 7% from his rides at Cheltenham Racing Festival though and he is unlikely to gain rides from many other yards. He needs his ammunition to be in full working order but his betting odds of 2/1 look remarkably short.
Davy Russell – Will be utilized by Gordon Elliot the most but is also likely to be used by Pat Kelly on Presenting Percy in the Gold Cup Race. The wily veteran knows every blade of grass, fence and bend around here and despite getting a little older; he is more than capable of recapturing the racing trophy he won in 2018 and should probably be the favourite. His betting odds are 3/1
Barry Geraghty – Barry will have plenty of opportunities once again this year as he is the retained rider for JP McManus. He will have many decent horse rides on hand including Defi Du Seuil, Epatante and a few others besides. He has had quite a few past glory days around here but more recently a few races he would rather forget. I think these days there is better value to be had and he is a poor bet at 6/1.
Rachael Blackmore – Has come on in leaps and bounds since winning two races at the Cheltenham Festival last year on Minella Indo and A Plus Tard. She will have plenty of useful rides this time around for Henry De Bromhead and if they are on song, she is a leading player. Trainers such as Joseph O’Brien and Willie Mullins will call upon her if she is available. She has odds of 6/1 to land the title, but is a racing jockey very much at the top of her game and a threat to all.
Nico De Boinville – Nico is an underrated horse racing jockey and he came from nowhere to win this prize last season. He will mainly be riding for Nicky Henderson who has won the leading horse racing trainer title three times since 2000, including an incredible seven race winners back in 2012. He is the leading most jockey at the race track this year and he will push his rivals all the way. He has odds of 8/1 to retain his title.
BoyleSports horse racing ambassador Robbie Power – Can never be underestimated. He will have rides from many top yards including Jessica Harrington, Gordon Elliott, Willie Mullins and of course Colin Tizzard. Having won such prizes as the The Gold Cup and the RSA around here in the past he easily enters calculations. He has also ridden winners of Irish and English Grand Nationals, so write him off at your peril. He has some exciting mounts ahead of him and a flurry of winners would surprise nobody. At 10/1 odds at bet on this horse looks appealing.
Conclusion:
Any of the jockeys above clearly have the ability to win four races in a day, never mind over a four day period. It just shows how ultra – competitive the racing is this year. Henry De Bromhead’s yard seem to be so consistent this season and with Rachael Blackmore enjoying her best ever season, it will be of no surprise to see her attempt to become the first female top jockey at a Cheltenham Festival. Robbie Power will be engaged by many stables and he can push her all of the way, and confidence will only build if he can get one in on the first day at decent betting odds.
Karl Hedley
@KarlHedley1
