Cheltenham Festival: Tips from Ruby Walsh Friday

Here are Ruby’s tips and her thoughts.

1.20 Triumph Obstacle – Zanahiyr

“[Haut En Couleurs and Tax For Max?] Haut En Couleurs is not a maiden – she won in France, so it’s almost as if Willie’s hand was forced. He has to direct it if he’s not going to be a rookie next season. It goes really well at home, I don’t know, this is a great question. Since the Fairyhouse Winter Festival I have been and have been Zanahiyr’s biggest fan and I will not change my mind. I thought his performance that day was incredible and I think he will win. “

1.55 County Obstacle – Ganapathi, Snow Sky in every way

“Ciel De Neige has raced at Cheltenham on the Boodles, but that was on the old field, now he’s heading to the new one and I think that will suit him a bit more. I think he wants a little more, I think the new track will suit him, this little bit of stamina, he’s in good shape and comes at a great price in every way.

“My slight preference is probably for Ganapathi; I think he’s a little less exposed, good run at Punchestown behind Dreal Deal, got stuck at the last hurdle and got mugged, didn’t come home behind Gaillard Du Mesnil at the Racing Festival from Dublin, falling back to running hard two miles suits him, I educated him, I have educated two horses since I retired and this was one of them and I thought he was a really good jumper and I think like Ciel De Neige this travel and the track will be good for them to be my two against the field “.

2.30 Albert Bartlett of Rookie Hurdles – Fakiera

“I would say that at this stage I have tipped about six horses in this race and every time I look at it, I defend a different horse. I think it’s the weakest of the rookie hurdles, but I would fully accept Frank’s thoughts on Fakiera and the more you see the rookie hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and think it was 2m 6f, which will happen in two furlongs of time, plus. you see Fakiera finishing in front of Stattler. So for that reason I will also side with Fakiera right now. “

3.05 WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup – Al Boum Photos

Ah Al Boum Photo is in great shape, you would be delighted with him. We are delighted with it. I wasn’t sure that when I left Cheltenham last Friday I was going to win a third Gold Cup. I thought that by leaving in 2019 I would win again in 2020 and when I left in 20, I don’t know if I will win a third. But the more I have observed all these horses throughout the year, the stronger the case of Al Boum Photo can be.

I thought he did well to win at Tramore and when you look at the last furlong of the race he beat Acapella Bourgeois by a long way and Acapella Bourgeois hasn’t exactly dropped out of shape since. Champ is a danger and A Plus Tard certainly is: through the two horses running against him, at this point he would probably think that A Plus Tard is a greater danger. When you look at the shape of the two yards and look at the week Henry is having and even the look of Henry’s horses in the parade ring, they just look amazing.

A lot of them looking to have their summer coats on, almost cut into quarters, they just seem to be really healthy and really well and I think A Plus Tard is the biggest danger, but for a considerable amount of time, I’ve been in Al’s Side Boum Photo and I will not abandon it.

3.40 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunter Open Hunt – Bob and company

Bob and Co is the pick, but I think Billaway is in great shape and a little better horse than at this time last year.

4.15 The persecution of Ms. Paddy Power Mares – Elimay

Willie has four, it’s just hard to see Cabaret Queen win, he could have four. Salsaretta could use rain – he likes soft soil, so he comes down to the two at the top of the Colreevy market, Elimay. Which one is going to handle better terrain, better, I think probably, Elimay. I think Colreevy Limerick on Dec 26, when you handle that terrain, you can’t really handle good terrain. Now I know he won a bumper championship at Punchestown so maybe I’m talking nonsense, I think Elimay for me. He could have gone to Limerick last weekend but he is eight years old, his owners are breeders and there would be a chance he could go stallion next season so it was now or never.

4.50 Martin Pipe Conditional Riders Handicap Hurdles – Galopin Des Champs

Yes, and to be honest with you, I can’t tell you much about Gentleman De Mee, I’ve never sat on him, I see him working at home, he’s a moving horse. He would have improved for his debut with Willie, no question about that, but I like the other one, I have tipped him a lot at this stage, Galopin Des Champs, I thought he was behind Appreciate It in Leopardstown. It was a pretty solid race and I think going up on the road will really do him good. Galopin Des Champs, Sean O’Keeffe on his back, he will make me.

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