Walsh Odds-on For Leading Cheltenham Title!

WALSH ODDS-ON FOR LEADING CHELTENHAM TITLE!

William Hill have priced-up the Cheltenham Festival’s leading jockey championship – and make Ruby Walsh their 8-15 favourite for a successive title victory.

The 2009 Festival saw Walsh break all known records with an incredible seven winning rides, a total that this year could be bettered again with some of his best mounts including Master Minded, Big Buck’s, Kauto Star, and Quevega.

Barry Geraghty boasts rides aboard Punchestowns, Zaynar, and ranks as Hill’s 7-2 second favourite for the Thomas Pink-sponsored award, with Champion jockey Tony McCoy third-favourite at 13-2.

Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said:’’Four wins is usually the magic number needed to secure the Cheltenham ‘leading jockey’ title, and Ruby nearly doubled that figure in 2009. His book of rides this year reads like a ‘who’s who’ of National Hunt heroes, and it’ll take some man to wrestle the title from Walsh’s grasp this year.’’

Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey (Thomas Pink Award): 8-15 Ruby Walsh, 7-2 Barry Geraghty, 13-2 AP McCoy, 16-1 Davy Russell, Robert Thornton, 25-1 Paul Carberry, Timmy Murphy, 33-1 Paddy Brennan, Richard Johnson, 40-1 Tom Scudamore, 50-1 Graham Lee, Sam Thomas, 66-1 Wayne Hutchinson.