In aid of Ballyshannon National School and St Brigid’s Hospice (sponsored by Paddy Power)

Panel: Ruby Walsh, A.P. McCoy, Oli Bell, Noel O’Brien, Robert Catterson

IN a room with Ruby Walsh two weeks before the Cheltenham Festival starts. He’ll be riding goodness knows how many favourites during the week. He’s been on a winner at the festival every year since 2002. Most years he rides at least three winners.

And Ruby’s in super confident mood. Then again, he always is. Considering he’ll be on probably five favourites on the first day, he is extra bullish.

“I’ll win on Min in the Supreme, then I’ll win on Douvan in the Arkle,” he says. “I’ll win the Champion Hurdle on either Annie Power or Nichols Canyon.”

Bullish indeed.

Annie Power hasn’t even been entered for the Champion Hurdle - she’ll have to be supplemented at a cost of £20,000.

“No decision has been made on Annie Power yet,” continues Ruby, “but could she beat all the main contenders in the race? Yes, definitely. She’s quick enough – she’s at least as quick as some of the recent winners of the Champion Hurdle, but she’s not as good as Faugheen, or Hurricane Fly. When you supplement a horse for a race, you have to go and win it.

“But Rich Ricci (Annie Power’s owner) and Willie Mullins aren’t going to leave behind the mares’ hurdle. I’d always thought of Annie Power as the perfect sub for Faugheen in the Champion. If Vroum Vroum Mag is flying in the week before the Champion and there are no problems with her going for the mares’ race, then yes, Annie Power will be supplemented.”

So, in a room with Ruby Walsh. Oh, and A.P. McCoy (Sir). Exalted company. Also there, is Oli Bell of Racing UK. He’s making the introductions. There’s also Irish National Hunt handicapper Noel O’Brien and Paddy Power representative Robert Catterson.

And about 800 others people, all hanging on the words of wisdom from five brilliant racing brains.

GOLD CUP

Apart from Annie Power, the other burning question surrounds the blue riband event – the Gold Cup. Who will Ruby ride in the race he has won twice with Kauto Star, the last of which was in 2009?

“I’ll be riding for Willie Mullins,” he unsurprisingly reveals with a smirk, which means, taking away the Gigginstown House Stud entries, he’ll be on either Djakadam or Vautour.

“Vautour will stay, there’s no doubt about that. He’s in better nick and in better form than he was in the King George. A decision will be made seven days before the race when the pair work on the Curragh. Don Cossack is probably the class horse of the race, but his form at Cheltenham and when in big fields is poor.”

That sorts that out then. Ruby fancies whatever he rides in the Gold Cup. So much so that his charity bet of the night is a reverse forecast on the pair in the big race.

On Min, favourite for the restival curtain-raiser Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Ruby believes there is no contest.

“All last year’s Champion Bumper horses are too slow,” he says. “Min has improved physically, he’s a great jumper, has loads of pace, in fact he has it all.”

McCoy agrees: “Min looks the obvious one in a not outstanding novice hurdle but Supasundae could run a great race if the ground dries up a bit.”

WILLIE’S WOUND UP

Ruby will have the choice of Bellshill, Yorkhill and Long Dog in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle. “Willie’s too wound up about it to ask him which one I’ll be on,” he says. “Yanworth is the one to beat and we’ll be firing plenty of bullets at him.” It could be as many as 12 bullets, according to Ruby.

In the mares’ novice hurdle, Ruby is sweet on Limini, even though she was sick when she won at Punchestown, easily beating 22 opponents. He mentions Myska as the one who could worry Limini most.

On to the Arkle, and the discussion levels drop. It’s Douvan, Douvan, Douvan. Everyone agreed. It’s a foregone conclusion. Just to be different, and to wind up Ruby, A.P. plumps for Vaniteux. Ruby nominates Tell Us More as the danger in a weak race.

Noel O’Brien admits Willie Mullins has a strong hand in the JLT, of which Outlander is best and a definite runner.

O’Brien then explain that Gordon Elliott has been aiming No More Heroes specifically at the RSA and could be a live one. A.P. agrees but Ruby doesn’t. He can’t get No More Heroes’ defeat at Punchestown last year out of his head and maintains that he is beatable. He suggests Roi De Francs is a good alternative.

On to the Bumper, a race traditionally dominated by the Mullins yard. Ruby reckons Willie will run five. He hopes one of them is Augusta Kate - who he’ll probably ride due to the weights. Oli Bell chips in that last week Aidan Coleman was hyping up the chances of High Bridge.

Handicaps next. A.P. said that Doctor Harper is David Pipe’s best chance of a handicap win at the festival this year, and put forward If In Doubt as the solution to the Pertemps Final.

Asked which is the best-treated of the Irish handicap hopefuls, Noel O’Brien said the Charles Byrnes-trained Leave At Dawn was “eye-catching” on his last run. Ruby rattled off Children’s List, Squouateur, Clondaw Warrior, Blazer and two Paul Nicholls’ French imports in the Fred Winter (Clic Work and Diego Du Charmil).

The Champion Chase, the panel somewhat agreed, will be a two-horse race between Un De Sceaux and Sprinter Sacre.

Ruby, who will ride Un De Sceaux, said: “If he jumps like he did at Ascot, he’ll win. Why did he fall at Leopardstown? Maybe he was a tad too brave. It’s a weak race and I think he’ll win, but Felix Yonger is a great each-way bet. Champion Chasers don’t tend to stay around too long and the others in the race have all had their day.”

SUPPLEMENT VAUTOUR

Noel O’Brien agrees with Ruby by saying he thinks Sprinter Sacre is running at least 10lb below his best.

In the Ryanair, Smashing was the horse to get most votes from the panel, but Ruby “will bend Rich Ricci’s ear to get Vautour” for it. That’d make his Gold Cup choice a bit more straightforward, while the panel couldn’t get away from Thistlecrack in the World Hurdle.

Charity bets €100

each from

paddy power

Ruby Walsh: €50 reverse forecast on Djakadam and Vautour in Gold Cup.

A.P. McCoy: Multiple on Thistlecrack, Min, Douvan and Limini.

Noel O’Brien: €50 each-way on No More Heroes in RSA

Oli Bell: Next Sensation in Grand Annual.

Ruby bonus €100 charity bet: Treble on Min, Douvan and Limini.