Ruby Walsh has been supporting them for as long as he can remember and through their shared interest in the turf, he’s got to know Sir Alex Ferguson. He pays tribute to the retiring Manchester United legend

I’m biased because I was sitting in the stand at the end where all the goals went in, but winning the Champions League to clinch the treble in 1999 was undoubtedly the greatest achievement of Alex Ferguson’s time at Manchester United. To build such an incredible team, winning a league, FA Cup and then have them come back in the manner they did to complete the treble, there’s nothing like it.

I wish I could say all the United fans still believed right until the end, but as the clock ticked to 9o minutes, our end of the stadium was a very quiet place. The Nou Camp felt like it was split right at the half-way line and all you could hear was the Germans singing in the distance. Where I was felt like a morgue, but that all changed quite rapidly. When Teddy Sheringham got the equaliser, there was just an immense feeling of relief that we were going to extra time, but not sooner had we sat down than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got the winner and it was all over. It was a brilliant night and one of the sporting highlights of my life.

What Sir Alex has done at United is incredible … he’s the best I’ve seen in my lifetime

The question about him being the greatest manager in British football history – that isn’t even a question for me. It’s beyond doubt. It’s maybe not fair because I wasn’t around to see Matt Busby or Bill Shankly, but what Sir Alex has done at United is incredible and he’s easily the best I’ve seen in my lifetime.

Some managers focus on motivating players, for others it’s the tactics and then you get the wheeler-dealers who can build a decent team from the transfer market. Fergie had it all and you don’t get to where he was without having it all. He built teams, he was constantly able to motivate players and he mostly got his team playing in the right way to ensure they won. He didn’t buy too many duds – there were a couple, but every manager will have those – he nurtured young talent, but no-one was bigger than the club and or bigger than him and he’d send them backing if the situation required it. The players always knew they had to respect him and the club.

Getting Eric Cantona when he did was his best bit of business. He got him for a song and he was the missing cog in the machine that brought it all together. Even though he was only at United for five years, it laid the foundations for all the success that followed. If you think about how much it would cost to buy a player like Cantona now, £1.2 million was an absolute giveaway.

Cantona was Fergie’s best signing … £1.2 million was an absolute giveaway

I’ve met Fergie plenty of times and although there’s probably lots of ABUs who like to think he’s some sort of monster, it couldn’t be further from the truth. He’s an absolute gentleman and very good company. He’s tough, but he’s fair, he’s a good guy to ride for. He knows his racing inside out and he might talk about how to deal with pressure situations and that sort of thing but he’d never talk tactics with me.

Some United fans seem a bit divided on David Moyes getting the job, but I’m very much pro-Moyes. He’s done a great job at Everton, clearly has a good knowledge of football and if he could do half as good a job as Sir Alex, he’ll be a great appointment for the club.

• Find out what chance Manchester United have of retaining their title in the post-Ferguson era&lt

The 3m World Hurdle is the highlight of today’s action from the five-day festival. Top jockey Ruby Walsh joins the Paddy Power Blog team to go through his rides and give punters a helping hand.

Day 3, Thursday, April 25

Marito (3.40) was staying on well when he fell in the Jewson Chase and switches back to hurdles. With normal luck-in-running he should put up a bold show here.

Twinlight (4.15)  is a better horse going right-handed over 2m and has been a reliable yard stick in graded races over the winter against some of the top performers and because of that carries top-weight here.

Quevega (5.30)  is in great form but this could be as tough a renewal in the World Hurdle (5.30) as she’s faced in her three wins to date here. She showed her class to get herself to get out of trouble at the Festival but Solwhit was very good at Cheltenham and Aintree.

There looks to be plenty of pace in the race so it shouldn’t be a messy affair and the best horse should win.  I’m hoping its Quevega. Reve De Sivola is a likely traveller from the UK but I can’t see any reason why he’ll reverse the form with Solwhit on their Cheltenham run.

I ride Arvika Legionnaire (6.40) in the Ryanair Novice Steeplechase who needs to come back to his early-season form as there’s some stiff opposition in the entries among Baily Green, Benefficient and recent Fairyhouse winner Realt Mor.

• Betting: All Thursday’s cards, form and odds

The Punchestown Gold Cup is the highlight of today’s action from the five-day festival. Top jockey Ruby Walsh joins the Paddy Power Blog team to go through Wednesday’s card and give punters a helping hand. Ruby picked out two winners yesterday and paid for a pizza and a few pints for the lads in the office last night. Same again please Champ!

Day 2, Wednesday, April 24

Inish Island ran a cracker to finish third to At Fishers Cross in Cheltenham- who franked the form at Aintree but Ballycasey (4.55) missed the race at Cheltenham and has been in good form at home since and I ride him in the 3m Grade One Novice Hurdle.

Kauto Stone looks like he’s going to take his chance in the Punchestown Gold Cup (5.30). He won well at Down Royal beating First Lieutenant but has been disappointing since. Paul Nicholls has completely freshened him up since then and if he ran like he did at Down Royal he’d have a chance – if he doesn’t he won’t. I’m not sure if the heavy ground will help or hinder him.

I think Sir Des Champs will be okay on the ground. I watched him canter on Tuesday morning and seemed well after his Gold Cup exploits when second to Bobs Worth. First Lieutenant has run well all season but has been to Newbury, Cheltenham and Aintree so whether that has an effect we’ll have to see. Long Run takes his chance too.

Patrick (Mullins) takes over on Briar Hill in the Champion Bumper (6.05) after he won for me at Cheltenham. He shows nothing at home and keeps his best for the track but is trying to emulate Champagne Fever (2012) Cousin Vinny (2008) by ‘doubling up’ after winning the Cotswolds in March.

• Betting: All Wednesday’s cards, form and prices

The Punchestown Festival comes under orders on Tuesday and top jock Ruby Walsh joins the Paddy Power blog team as many of Ireland’s record 14 winners turn out again at the five-day showpiece of Irish racing.

Day 2, Wednesday, April 24

Inish Island ran a cracker to finish third to At Fishers Cross in Cheltenham- who franked the form at Aintree. Ballycasey missed the race at Cheltenham but has been in good form at home since and I may choose to ride him in the .

Kauto Stone looks like he’s going to take his chance in the Punchestown Gold Cup (5.30). He won well at Down Royal beating First Lieutenant but has been disappointing since. Paul Nicholls has completely freshened him up since then and if he ran like he did at Down Royal he’d have a chance – if he doesn’t he won’t. I’m not sure if the heavy ground will help or hinder him. I think Sir Des Champs will be okay on the ground. I watched him canter on Tuesday morning and seemed well after his Gold Cup exploits when second to Bobs Worth. First Lieutenant has run well all season but has been to Newbury, Cheltenham and Aintree so whether that has an effect we’ll have to see. Long Run takes his chance too.

Patrick (Mullins) takes over on Briar Hill in the Champion Bumper (6.05) after he won for me at Cheltenham. He shows nothing at home and keeps his best for the track but is trying to emulate Champagne Fever (2012) Cousin Vinny (2008) by ‘doubling up’ after winning the the Cotswolds in March.

Day 3, Thursday, April 25

Quevega is in great form but this could be as tough a renewal in the World Hurdle (5.30) as she’s faced in her three wins to date here. She showed her class to get herself to get out of trouble at the Festival but Solwhit was very good at Cheltenham and Aintree. l.  There looks to be plenty of pace in the race so it shouldn’t be a messy affair and the best horse should win.  I’m hoping its Quevega. Reve De Sivola is a likely traveller from the UK but I can’t see any reason why he’ll reverse the form with Solwhit on their Cheltenham run.

Arvika Legionnaire, Marito and Twinlight could all contest the Ryanair Novice Steeplechase but I haven’t decided who I’ll ride yet. Marito was staying on well when he fell in the Jewson while Twinlight is a better horse going right-handed over 2m and is a reliable yard stick. I’ll have to wait and see what happens before I call it and there’s some stiff opposition in the entries among Baily Green, Benefficient and recent Fairyhouse winner Realt Mor.

CLASS ACT: Ruby and Hurricane Fly after regaining their Cheltenham crown

Day 4, Friday, April 26

I told Paddy Hurricane Fly would cost him a fortune at Cheltenham and I was right. The Fly has to contend with Rock on Ruby again on Friday (5.30) but we beat him in the away leg and I’m  hoping he can make home advantage count. Pont Alexandre (6.05) looks to redeem his reputation in the Grade One Novice Hurdle when turned over as many people’s idea of the Irish banker at Cheltenham. Has done nothing wrong on soft ground and should be slightly better suited by going right handed. Pique Sous will want the ground to dry out a bit and Un Atout could go there too so it’s going to be competitive.

Day 5, Saturday, April 27

Annie Power will run in the Grade One Mares Hurdle (3.45). She’s unbeaten in seven races and has gotten better with each run. Our Conor sets the standard in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (4.25) and was very impressive in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. But juveniles are juveniles and when they have to step up and take on the men next year you’ll find out how good they are then.

• Betting: All Tuesday’s cards, form and prices 
• How to treble your chances of winning at the Punchestown Festival 

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Day 1, Tuesday April 23

Sprinter Sacre is the star of the show in the Champion Chase and has the opposition running scared.

I ride Supreme Novice Hurdle winner Champagne Fever (4.20) and he’s entitled to be favourite. He beat My Tent or Yours at Cheltenham – who franked the form at Aintree – with Jetski back in third. It’s a good race with Mouse Morris’s Rule the World also in the mix after finishing second to The New One at the Festival.

Champagne Fever acts on the track, handles the ground and we’re hoping for a big run.

Tennis Cap (4.55) won two handicaps this season and was placed in the County Hurdle but disappointed on ground that was maybe too quick at Fairyhouse. He’s crept up the handicap and carries 11-7 which will make life hard for him. Willie also runs Taisitiocht who gets in on 10st and this one could run a big race if she has enough experience for a 20-runner handicap in a race that Paddy Power is paying 1/4 the odds the first five places.

I’ve gone for Back In Focus in the 3m 1f Novice Chase (6.40) but it was a tough call. He’s a real mudlark, a sound jumper and stays forever and that could give him the edge on the forecast heavy going. I’ve no doubt that Boston Bob may be the classier individual on good ground but this race will be a right slog and you’ll need to grind it out.

Willie Mullins now trains Moyle Park (6.05) who beat Blackmail at Leopardstown over Christmas and comes here with a big reputation while Dr Schultz makes his debut. Wicklow Brave (7.15) also runs for the first time in what are competitive races.

The Paddy Power Blog has acquired this shaky iphone footage of Ruby Walsh’s remarkable victory on eight-year-old Blackstairmountain in the Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan on Saturday, the second most valuable jumps race in the world. The Racing Post reports that only the £975k Grand National is worth more.

Ruby Walsh picked up a very taster winner’s cheque of £465k for trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci, from the race pot which is JPY124,000,000 or £821k.

Blackstairmountain has been in Japan since he cantered around (and finished ninth) in last month’s Pegasus Jump Stakes, which was clearly just to get him used to the lay of the land and the sushi.

The starting price on Saturday at the track? 25/1. Christonabike.

Walsh, after his first winner outside Europe, chuckled: “It’s a long way from Ireland to here and you come to win, you don’t come to take part.” Cheers for that, Ruby, and good work honing your Japanese language skills.

Outstanding stuff on a 2m5f crazy-ass figure-eight course.

For some proper footage check out the below video which includes an interview with Ruby.

The streets in Aintree are still running orange with fake tan after Ladies Day yesterday, and Paddy Power is still licking his wounds after getting spectacularly cleaned out. My Tent Or Yours, Dynaste, Sprinter Sacre and At Fishers Cross all obliged on Friday leaving the traders in Power Tower running for cover. Paddy has been curled up in the fetal position listening to Coldplay in a dark room for the last 18 hours. It’s not pretty.

Whisper it quietly, but it could get even worse for the boss today. Punters pal and Cheltenham hero Ruby Walsh has four rides including On His Own in the Grand National.

Ruby’s rides

• 1.45pm Dodging Bullets
• 2.50pm Celestial Halo
• 4.15pm On His Own
• 5.45pm Vago Collognes

If all of Ruby’s horses oblige it would pay out a staggering 4680/1 four-fold and that would mean no Christmas’ in Paddy Power’s house this year. Or any year until 2033. For the more realistic punter all four of Ruby’s mounts have place claims and for them all to be in the frame pays out roughly 46/1.

Here is the man himself giving you a run-down of his rides at Aintree this afternoon exclusively for the Paddy Power Blog.

1.45 Mersey Novice’s Hurdle

Dodging Bullets has got over that run in the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle at Cheltenham. Watching the replays, he never seemed to be going and he was struggling after jumping the first hurdle. He kind of got back in to the race but he was beaten at the top of the hill. He has to put that run well behind him. I’m very impressed by Donald McCain’s horse Up And Go. I was second to him at Ascot when I was on Aim of Prosper the last time out. I was very taken by his performance, the way he went about it and the ease with which he won. Up And Go is a horse we will hear an awful lot about and he will be hard to beat today.

2.50 The Liverpool Hurdle

If you’re not in the race you can’t win the race. There is no obvious reason why Celestial Halo can reverse the form with Solwhit but you never know. It was a great training performance to get Solwhit back to win a World Hurdle. Maybe travelling back to Ireland and then back to Aintree will have taken something off him but you’re looking for something, and grasping at straws. Halo has a good record here and he is on the comeback trail. He has only had two runs and Paul Nicholls thinks he might be fitter today. We’re hopeful more than confident.

4.15 The Grand National

Seabass has a great chance but I’m delighted to ride On His Own. He was travelling well at Bechers last year when he tipped up. He has been working really well and Willie Mullins has had this race as his target for the last 12 months. There is two ways of looking at the race because some people think course form is invaluable and others think first time is the way to catch a horse around there. It will depend how On His Own jumps early in the race, if he can hold his position and be in touch he should run a huge race. But the National is the National, anything can happen. There are plenty of horses you could fancy and lots of horses to make a case for. I’d love to win it myself, but if I don’t I’ll be shouting for Katie and after that I’ll be shouting for AP McCoy and Dad’s horse Colbert Station.

5.45 Champion Standard Open National Hunt Flat

The price on Vago Collonges is fair enough. He ran a nice race at Newbury but he is an individual who will be a better horse next year. This is his second run and he is obviously doing his best but it will be more for experience for next year when he goes hurdling. He is a good horse for the future but whether a four-year old can actually win this race is debateable. Tony Martin’s horse Quickpick Vic might be the one worth a few pennies.

• Betting: Aintree day three
  

FAMILY FORTUNES: Jockey Katie Walsh with her father Ted who trains Seabass (pic: Inpho)

By Josh Powell | Grand National 2013

Sibling rivalry is nothing new. At one end of the extreme scale, a lot of it is plastered across the Jeremy Kyle Show each morning, at the other end brother and sister go head-to-head on horse racing’s biggest stage.

Ruby Walsh looks set to ride On His Own, the 15/2 favourite for the Grand National trained by Willie Mullins. His sister Katy Walsh will keep the ride on Seabass who came third in last year’s race and is owned by Dad Ted Walsh. Seabass isn’t far behind in the betting at 9/1.

Ted, who spends most race meetings tirelessly entertaining us on the television with his witty banter and complete disregard for the watershed, also runs the well-backed 11/1 shot Colbert Station, who will be ridden by Champion jockey AP McCoy.

The big race could result in some of the Walsh family members receiving some pretty crap Christmas presents this year with all three horses in with a good chance. Paddy Power had his lucky pants pulled down by Ruby when he guided Hurricane Fly to victory at Cheltenham and the boss is in danger of it happening again this weekend. There’s nothing he enjoys more than flying into the face of caution so he has priced up a hole host of Ruby specials for the national.

Walsh family specials

4/1 Either Ruby Walsh or Katie Walsh to ride the winner
8/1 Both Ruby Walsh and Katie Walsh to place
33/1 A Ruby and Katie Walsh one-two in any order
8/11 On His Own to beat Seabass in a match bet
Evens Seabass to beat On His Own in a match bet

Ruby isn’t bothered by the fact it might come down to a straight battle between him and his younger sister. If it comes down to a battle to the post between On His Own and Seabass, he guarantees that there will be no holding back between the competitive pair.

‘A Walsh one-two would be great but it is not something I want to think about. It would be very simple for punters if the first and second favourite came in anyway. Seabass ran a great race last year, On His Own tipped up but they have two live chances.’

‘The National is the National. Winning is a fairy-tale but the results often aren’t.’

‘If, for some reason, On His Own doesn’t win I would love Katie and Seabass to win. For her, for lady riders, for the race itself, it is the dream result. It would be a very special day for her. She is more than capable and more than deserves her chance.’

‘It would be a dream result but unfortunately I’m a professional and there is no quarter given. I beat a horse of Dad’s in an Irish National eight years ago but that is part and parcel of racing.’

‘I would be delighted for my father and sister if they won and they would be delighted for me. We are sporting people.’

There would be one hell of a party in the Walsh household if On His Own, Seabass and Colbert Station take up the first three places in this year’s National. Paddy Power will be hoping for an invitation as the Walsh family are set to help punters clean him out for the second time in four weeks.

• Betting: Grand National
• Betting: Walsh specials

#IronMan

Two-time Grand National winner Ruby Walsh has given the Paddy Power Blog an outline of some of his most serious injuries in his 15-year professional career.

Ruby’s injuries highlight the dangers jockeys face in the sport, especially after the injuries suffered by his pal JT McNamara at Cheltenham last month.

Ruby has suffered more concussions than he can remember, broken more ribs than he can count, ruptured his spleen and smashed bones from head to toe. The Iron Man doesn’t have a pin, plate or screw in him though and keeps breaking records and winning races.

‘Physical pain always goes away. It is 20 minutes, half an hour, two hours or a day maximum. The mental pain is always there. You’re sat looking at your injury, looking at your body, looking at the rides you could be on and the winning money you’re missing out on. You watch everything and you’re itching to get back. The mental pain is far more uncomfortable than the physical pain,’ he told us.

‘Falling off a horse isn’t always sore. People say not falling right is the reason you get injured but that is wrong, that’s just a theory. The longer you can stay on the horse the better. The horse hits the jump and the horse hits the ground before you fall off. The closer you are to the ground and the slower you make it, the less likely you are to get hurt.’

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‘There’s lots of tough sports-people but there are plenty of soft ones as well. Hurlers are incredibly tough sports-men. They don’t wear shin-guards and you can see someone break a hurling stick across Henry Shefflin’s shin and the guy won’t even break stride. Then you watch someone brush off an International football player and he rolls around like his head is going to fall off. There are tough sports-people and soft sports-people.’

‘I don’t like people who feign injury. I can’t watch football because there is no point. They’re not playing football they are acting and they are bad actors. I don’t have time for that. You’re either hurt or you’re not. When you deal in a sport when serious injuries take place, to see someone feign injury is actually a little bit revolting.’

‘The tough guys in the weighing room are the most successful. Look at AP McCoy and what he is prepared to go through. The rest of us have to follow suit. You have to get tough quick and there is no sympathy for the soft.’

‘We don’t see ourselves as hard, we see ourselves as fair, and tough, and honest. If you want to be a wuss go and play something else. This is a mans sport.’

Ruby Walsh told the Paddy Power Blog more about his injuries and how dislocating his hip at Listowel, Co Kerry, was the worst pain he has ever felt. (He’s never watched a full episode of The Big Reunion).

Broken left ankle – Killarney, 2009

I broke this in a fall in Killarney. I fell off a horse called Imperial Hills and had to spend six weeks on the sidelines. This wasn’t a major injury and I walked out of the racecourse. I used a crutch but convinced myself it was fine. It is only when you cool down and you see the swelling that you realise something is wrong.

Broken right ankle – Galway, 2012

This didn’t hurt at all because I was knocked out! When I woke up in hospital they were x-raying it so it wasn’t too bad. I didn’t feel that one.

Broken right leg – Czech Republic, 1999

In 1999 I collided with a running rail and smashed it – my leg not the running rail. It was a clean break across the middle so that was lucky.

Right leg spiral break – Down Royal, 2010

This was a lot more severe than in the Czech Republic. It was in 2010 and I fell in a handicap chase. I did a very bad job on it this time. In a sense I was lucky with the treatment because I was in Northern Ireland and they put a frame on it. It is like having four wheels on a bike around your leg with the spokes going through the bone. This takes off the pressure and straightens up the leg to heal it. I have no metal or screws anywhere but I had the spokes in during this operation. Because it was a spiral fracture from my knee down to my ankle it was a tricky break and took four months to heal.

Broken left hip – Listowel, 2003

I was unseated off a horse of Joe Crowley’s and I was falling off him for some amount of time. He hit the fence hard and I was down at his tail, hanging on and hanging on. When I did fall off I landed square on the road-crossing, right on the ball of my hip. Luckily it only broke 75 per cent of the way through. If it had broken all the way across it would have required a pin and a plate, but because it was only three-quarters of the way across there was something holding it together so it closed itself. That 25 per cent was very significant. It was the only thing between having to have an operation and not having an operation. That’s was the only plus out of that fall.

Dislocated right hip – Listowel, 2001

In regards to physical pain this is the worst injury I have ever had. The hip is different to your shoulders. Your shoulders don’t sit in a socket but there is a socket with your hip. Your leg sits in your hip socket so to get it out through it is extremely painful. I had a general anaesthetic to just pop it back in. Two hours later it was done but in those two hours I was sorer than I have ever been.

Broken right wrist – Aintree, 2012

Left wrist – Cork, 2000

Ruptured spleen – Cheltenham, 2008

I ruptured my spleen at Cheltenham at the November meeting but I had damaged it the previous February in Kempton. A horse beside me fell at the third-last and as I was in mid-air the falling horse kicked me with his hind-legs as he rotated. That was very sore for a good few days. I went on to win that race but genuinely thought about pulling up before the final fence I was in that much pain. I damaged it that time but your spleen can’t heal itself.

I had another scar in the spleen after another incident at Listowel in September. I got a fall in a Novice Chase and the horse landed down on my back and tore the back pad off me. It was incredibly sore that night as well. There were a couple of scars in my spleen so I had definitely damaged it at those falls before eventually rupturing it at Cheltenham. When they took it out there were multiple scars in it and they only took it out when it eventually burst.

Now I can only take 1/8 of the antibiotics that a normal person can take because the spleen cleanses the blood.

Crushed T7 vertebrae – Cheltenham, 2006

I think this was in 2006 at Cheltenham and I didn’t know it had happened for three weeks. The doctors couldn’t find it. I was back riding and had ridden a few winners but I got a very soft fall in Gowran Park. I remember thinking I can’t deal with this pain anymore and that’s when they found it. I had crushed my vertebra three weeks earlier.

Fractured C6 vertebrae – Killarney, 2011

This was just a small fracture but I got lucky to be honest. As soon as you get above T and start into C you’re getting high and should be worried.

Broken left humerus – Aintree, 2010

I broke this in three places after falling off Celestial Halo in the Betfair Hurdle. This took the longest to heal. It was from Aintree right through until August because for bones to heal you need a blood supply running through the bones. That meant the top break and the bottom break had to heal before any blood got to the middle break. I didn’t know until I broke it that the humorous is the second largest bone in your body behind the femur. I only got told that when I wrecked mine. That was a very severe injury. This was awkward because of the cast. After 10 weeks I went on holidays and I hate going away in a cast because it’s not a holiday. You can’t swim, you can’t do anything, the heat is making you sweat in the cast, it’s a nightmare. Even when the doctor took the cast off and I was in a brace, the surgeon told me the most I could lift was the equivalent of a pint.

Dislocated right shoulder – Navan, 2007

Dislocated left shoulder – Cheltenham, 2007

Broken collarbone – Dundalk, 1999

This was the first serious injury I ever got as a professional jockey. This was back in August 1999 and I took a heavy fall at Dundalk.

Broken ribs

I’ve broken a few ribs over the years but they don’t really count. A rib injury doesn’t keep you out.

Concussions

I’ve had a few of them but when and where I can’t remember. The last time I got knocked out was at Galway (2012) and before that was in Kilbeggan. I broke eight teeth and cracked my jaw. You can still see the lump. I think I was spitting out teeth for about two days.

• Betting: Grand National
• Ruby’s Exclusive Grand National tips

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN: Ruby Walsh wins the 2005 Grand National on Hedgehunter

By Josh Powell | Aintree Grand National 2013

Cheltenham hero Ruby Walsh is gunning for a third Grand National victory. The Irish Champion jockey is no stranger to success over the Aintree fences and has been casting his eye over this year’s main contenders for the Paddy Power Blog. Here are his tips for the Grand National.

On His Own 15/2

On His Own was travelling really well last year. I was watching it from the weighing room and to be brutally honest he was travelling too well for my liking. He was in front of the eventual winner Neptune Collognes when he tipped up at Becher’s Brook. He seemed to take the fence fine, maybe a bit high if anything.

He jumped slowly early on in the race but warmed up and crept into contention. I spoke to Paul Townend about him and he said the same. He was careful enough early on but then warms up and jumps well.

On His Own has done nothing wrong this year although he’s only been asked one question at Navan. He won the hurdle race there and it was a very good run. They’ve had plenty of snow in Aintree so the ground will ride on the slow side and he handles that. He is a good ride with a great chance.

Hedgehunter was the favourite when I won it. Papillon was the Pricewise horse so got backed in to a pretty short price in the end. Being favourite doesn’t add any pressure for me, somebody has to be favourite. The horse doesn’t know its price.

Seabass 11/1 and Colbert Station 11/1

There are plenty of horses you have to be worried about and my dad, Ted Walsh, trains two of them with Seabass and Colbert Station. Seabass has had a good season, he was third in a hurdle race in his comeback run and then was third in the BobbyJo Chase. He ran a cracker there last year to finish third and this season he has been geared to Aintree. Last year Aintree was a culmination of runs so this season there is a very different outlook.

Colbert Station won the Paddy Power at Leopardstown at Christmas and won a Pertemps qualifier since. He is in good heart, he is in good health, he is a good jumper and he has a nice weight on his back. Dad has two great chances.

CHICAGO GREY: After Neptune Collognes in 2012, will it be back-to-back wins for greys?

Chicago Grey 12/1

Chicago Grey has a chance on his run in Navan but I’m not a fan of his jumping. He is very deliberate. You have to get round at Aintree and a deliberate horse can lose a lot of ground.

Join Together 16/1

Providing the ground dries up Join Together has a huge chance. If the ground is quick he has a chance. He ran well in the Becher Chase but he is really desperate for the ground to dry up.

Sunnyhillboy 16/1

Sunnyhillboy ran a great race last year, chinned on the line. He is a tough horse and his season has been geared absolutely and completely for this race. Not running in Cheltenham won’t be an issue. Jonjo O’Neill knows what it takes to win the Grand National. I imagine they have got plenty of work in to him. You can view it in two ways and it might be a good thing.

When I rode Hedgehunter in the Gold Cup and he finished second it took the edge of his Grand National run. There’s not much turnaround so it might be considered a positive. He hasn’t got much of a penalty since last year so he definitely has a good chance.

Ballabriggs 20/1

Ballabriggs, a former winner, has a great chance. He has come right down the weights and ran a decent enough race at Kelso. He’s proven himself at the track, went back there last year and went well so he has to have a chance.

• Betting: Grand National
  

Two Hennessy Gold Cups, a Cheltenham Gold Cup and a Lexus Chase. The Paul Nicholls-trained Denman was a serious horse and to start making comparisons between him and five-year-old hurdler Pont Alexandre is pretty significant.

But that is exactly what champion jockey Ruby Walsh has done.

Pont Alexandre has won all three of his starts over hurdles, winning by a combined distance of almost 30 lengths and Ruby Walsh is sweet on his chances in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle. He is the 2/1 favourite for Wednesday’s race at the Cheltenham Festival and Ruby believes he is a seriously special horse.

‘He jumps, he stays, and he has a huge future. There’s nothing not to like about Pont Alexandre. He is one of the best novices I’ve ever ridden.’

‘He is a very special horse.’

• Betting: Neptune Novices’ Hurdle
  
• Betting: Cheltenham Festival

A goal in the first five minutes in your Sunday League game. Your first pull within 20 minutes of entering the discotheque. Someone bringing you a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich in bed. It’s always good to get off to a flying start and the Cheltenham Festival is no different.

The opening race is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the roar is expected to be almost as loud as a jet plane as the Cheltenham Festival begins. The top two in the betting are My Tent Or Yours and Jezki with the debate raging over which horse is more likely to get punters off to a winning start for the week.

Paddy Power is the industry-best top price on both horses with Jezki at 5/1 and My Tent Or Yours the favourite at 7/4. 

Champion jockey Ruby Walsh isn’t on either mount but fancies Jezki to get the better of his rival. Jezki was recently purchased by JP McManus and Ruby fancies the unbeaten hurdler to make it five from five on the biggest stage of them all.

My Tent Or Yours has won three races from four over the obstacles, coming second on the other occasion. He was installed as favourite after an impressive win in the Betfair Hurdle where he hardly strayed off the bridle and had Cotton Mill comfortably five lengths behind him.

Listen to Ruby’s thoughts on the battle between Jezki and My Tent Or Yours here:

• Betting: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
• Betting: Cheltenham Festival

#CheltFestTips

He’s the jumps jockey who has won two Grand Nationals, two Gold Cups, three Champion Chases, a Champion Hurdle, five King Georges, two Irish Grand Nationals, and two Hennessy Gold Cups. Ruby Walsh goes to the Cheltenham Festival 2013 without the retired Kauto Star but has high hopes for Pont Alexandre, Hurricane Fly and Jezki. Best of all, Ruby’s not shy about sharing his tips about who he thinks will win the big races at this year’s Festival.

Click on the picture below or here to download a PDF of Ruby Walsh’s exclusive Cheltenham 2013 Tip Cheat Sheet to print out and share.

• Cheltenham Festival Betting: Click here
• All Cheltenham 2013 Tip Cheat Sheets: Click here
• Exclusive audio tips from Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Matt Chapman and more: Click here

Champion jockey Ruby Walsh can’t wait to have Paddy Power’s lucky pants pulled down next week at the Cheltenham Festival. Paddy announced that he is giving Money-back on all losers if Hurricane Fly wins the Champion Hurdle and Ruby is looking forward to emptying Paddy’s pockets on the 14-time Grade One winner.

Walsh was on board Fly in last year’s Champion Hurdle when the 4/6 favourite was turned over, eventually coming third. Ruby admitted that Fly ran flat, but said you wouldn’t want to be laying him going into this year’s renewal.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old has had a much better preparation winning three races before the Festival compared to this time last year when he had just the one run.

‘I love Hurricane Fly and I can’t wait to ride him’, Ruby told Paddy Power. ‘He’s going to take a lot of beating with any normal luck. I can’t wait to look Paddy Power in the eye after the race’.

‘I can’t understand why bookmakers are out to get him. I’m delighted to be riding him and I’d hate to be laying him’.

Listen to all of Ruby’s thoughts on Hurricane Fly and the Champion Hurdle here:

Hurricane Fly is 2/1 with Paddy to regain his Champion Hurdle crown but no horse has been able to regain the title for 38 years, since Comedy Of Errors in 1975. If Hurricane Fly wins the Champion Hurdle Paddy Power will be giving Money-Back on all losers. The boss still has sleepless nights after Sprinter Sacre took him for several million at last year’s Festival and if Ruby has his way it will be another crippling Cheltenham for Paddy.

• Betting: Champion Hurdle
• Betting: Cheltenham Festival 2013
• Champion Hurdle betting preview