Ruby Walsh expects another greenwash at Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh is expecting another greenwash at Cheltenham this year, predicting a 19-9 Prestbury Cup victory for those travelling across the Irish Sea. 

Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday March 17, with the best horses, trainers and jockeys going head-to-head across four days of extraordinary racing.

The rivalry between British-trained runners and those crossing those coming over from Ireland has become an overarching theme of the festival. 

Therefore, the two nations will battle it out for The Prestbury Cup – which is named after the nearest village to Cheltenham Racecourse. 

The Cup – which has been sealed with a snippet of Cheltenham grass – will be presented to jockeys and trainers from the winning nation. 

So, with the above in mind, Paddy Power spoke to Ruby Walsh to determine who will emerge victorious from the 2023 Festival.  

Speaking to the bookmakers, Walsh said: ‘The UK will win some of the championship races, but that will paper over the cracks.

‘To me it’s a greenwash because Ireland has the majority of entries in the novice races and bumper. Those horses are the future and the majority are in Ireland.’

Walsh went on to back Galopin Des Champs to win the Gold Cup at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival next week – claiming the seven-year-old is ‘made for it’. 

Walsh said: ‘The further Bravesmansgame went in the King George, the more he impressed. I don’t worry about the track. He was placed in the Ballymore behind Bob Olinger – he’s a much better horse now.

‘He’s a big runner but if I was given the choice to ride, I would ride Galopin Des Champs all day every day. He’s tailor made for it.

‘As always happens in Gold Cups, a stayer will get involved. I thought it would be Noble Yeats all year and I still think it’ll be Noble Yeats.

‘He gave Ahoy Senor 3lbs in the Cotswold Chase, he wasn’t knocked about, the cheekpieces are going back on and I think he’ll turn the form with Ahoy Senor and get in the money.’