Another market that many racing fans will be looking to get stuck into at the Cheltenham Festival is the ‘top jockey’ betting. The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest four days in the racing calendar and therefore all the top jockeys are there, hoping to ride as many winners as possible. Here we have a look at how Sky Bet have priced the market up.
Last year’s winner, Paul Townend, is a short-priced favourite to defend his title, at the low odds of 4/11 with Sky Bet and it is not difficult to see why.
Willie Mullins’ number one jockey only managed two wins over the first two days last year before a final day treble pulled him past the winning line but looks sure to surpass his total of five this year.
Townend will be hoping for a third successive Gold Cup win on favourite Al Boum Photo and will also have the services of short-priced favourites, Monkish, in the Brown Advisory Plate and Chacun Pour Soi in the Champion Chase.
The 30-year-old looks to have several live chances on the opening day too, including Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Appreciate It and Concertista, a hot favourite for the Mares Hurdle. Townend is also helped by the fact that this year no amateur jockeys will be allowed to ride at the festival and will be hoping he can steer Billaway to success in the Foxhunters Chase.
He also has many other handicap chances and the likes of Min in the Ryanair Chase, Energumene in the Arkle Chase, and exciting Kilcruit in the Champion Bumper and it could be a week to remember for Paul Townend.
Whilst Elliott has lost some of his top horses, the owners have agreed to keep Jack Kennedy on them, and Sky Bet have him in as the 10/3 second favourite.
There is no doubting his best chance is Envoi Allen, who is a short-priced favourite for the Marsh chase and is also likely to pair up with Triumph Hurdle favourite, Zanahiyr.
The 21-year-old will also be looking to land his second Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to start the week as he will ride Ballyadam, who is now trained by Henry De Bromhead and the pair will continue their partnership in the Gold Cup as Kennedy has picked up the ride on Minella Indo.
The Irishman will also have many handicap chances and will be hoping to make up for missing last year's festival through injury.
Rachael Blackmore could be a value play this year, with Sky Bet offering 12/1 for her to become the first women jockey to win the top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival.
Blackmore was victorious on Honeysuckle last year in the Mares Hurdle and will be hoping she can partner the pair to an eleventh successive victory in the Champion Hurdle.
The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle looks one of the races of the week and Blackmore will have the services of favourite Bob Olinger and she will be attempting to become the first women jockey to win the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard.
It could be a good week for Rachael Blackmore.
