*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
Ruby Walsh has picked out Appreciate It and Bob Olinger as two Cheltenham Festival winners who could repeat the feat at Prestbury Park in 2022.
Our resident jockey-turned-pundit was mightily impressed by their victories in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle respectively, and expects the duo to kick on again over the next 12 months.
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Speaking on the latest episode of our From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, the Paddy Power ambassador was put on the spot by a listener’s forward-thinking question but was ready with a resounding response.
When asked which horse at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival looks most likely to win at Prestbury Park next year, Ruby said: “I thought I saw it a couple of times – with Appreciate It and Bob Olinger.
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“You’ve got to look for the easiest races, and I don’t see a novice hurdler that would beat Appreciate It in the Arkle Chase over 2m.
“And I don’t see one that would beat Bob Olinger at 2½m in the Marsh Novices’ Chase either.”
Appreciate It crushed the rest of the field in the curtain-raising Supreme by 24l, justifying his position as the odds-on market favourite.
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Following that performance, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has been installed as the 3/1 antepost favourite for next year’s Arkle Chase renewal.
“It was a really good performance from Appreciate It – jumped well, the strong gallop suited him and he absolutely bolted in,” said Ruby.
“If I was riding for Willie, Appreciate It would be heading for the Arkle.”
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Bob Olinger put in a startling display to claim the Ballymore by 7½l, seeing off a competitive field that included the highly-rated Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame.
“I thought Rachael Blackmore was very good on Bob Olinger,” said Ruby.
“She was riding the best horse, but you still need to do all the right things and she did.
“Bob Olinger was very impressive and showed a huge turn of foot. It will be interesting to see if they go chasing or stay hurdling with him.
“He could go back to the Champion Hurdle, and Ballymore winners have a much better record in that race than Supreme winners do. But if he goes chasing, he would probably end up in a Marsh.”
*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
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