It has been the story that has run and run: who would ride the embarrassment of riches emanating from owner JP McManus, following the news that Barry Geraghty, McManus’ retained rider, would miss the Festival after suffering a collapsed lung and six broken ribs. Now the rides have been dished out, here is my analysis of the jockey bookings:
Walsh gets lion share (Yanworth Champion Hurdle, Uxizandre Ryanair, Jezki Stayers’ Hurdle, More Of That Gold Cup)
Mark Walsh, McManus’ second-jockey in Ireland to Geraghty, must be licking his lips at the prospect of riding a host of top-class names at the Festival. Yanworth is obviously the stand out ride and he will become the first jockey other than Geraghty to ride the seven-year-old son of Norse Dancer. He holds an outstanding chance of landing the Champion Hurdle and this is a massive opportunity for the Irishman. He has ridden a number of big-race winners in Ireland but this is his biggest test to date and this is both a huge chance but also a race which will heap pressure on Walsh to deliver. He is a consummate horseman and I fancy him to land the spoils on Yanworth. Uxizandre ran a belter in the Clarence House last time and he, Jezki and More Of That all have a real touch of class and all make each-way appeal.
Fehily reunites with old friends (Buveur D’Air Champion Hurdle, Unowhatimeanharry Stayers’ Hurdle)
Whilst Walsh has got the lion share of the McManus rides, Fehily arguably has the quality as he reunites with Buveur D’Air and Unowhatimeanharry. The latter looks a banker for the Festival, judged on his superb performances so far this term and I’m sure Fry will be delighted that Fehily, who rode the nine-year-old son of Sir Harry Lewis to victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, is aboard now Geraghty’s services are unavailable. Buveur D’Air has obvious claims in the Champion Hurdle and Fehily now rides two of the favourites in the four championship races; a lovely position to be in if you can get it.
Coleman picks up the pieces (My Tent Or Yours Champion Hurdle, Minella Rocco Gold Cup)
Aidan Coleman has picked up the ride on two outsiders in the McManus colours but Nicky Henderson’s My Tent Or Yours has finished second in the Champion Hurdle in the 2014 and 2016 renewals and he is a lovely outsider. Minella Rocco fell early on in the Irish Gold Cup last time but after winning at the Cheltenham Festival in the National Hunt Chase last year, he is another who represents each-way value.
Conclusion
It’s a massive opportunity for Mark Walsh and the spotlight will well and truly be on him but you have to feel that Noel Fehily has done very well in this set-up. He knows both of the horses he now rides well from last year’s exertions and they look to hold very strong claims of winning their respective races. Fehily could be Cheltenham dreaming.
