Ruby Walsh: I'd ride Vauban over Pied Piper in the Triumph Hurdle

*Odds quoted on the widget are Non Runner Money Back prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you’ll get your stake back

It’s week seven of our Cheltenham Countdown podcast series and attention turned to the juveniles for the latest chat between our racing boffins.

Gordon Elliott’s Pied Piper and Willie Mullins’ Vauban have emerged as the joint favourites for the Triumph Hurdle in our Non Runner Money Back betting market, two months after meeting in a 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

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Pied Piper won by ½l on that day in December but Vauban went on to pick up his first win over flights by defeating Elliott’s other Triumph fancy, Fil Dor, in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Despite thinking Pied Piper has the stamina to cope with the demands of the New Course at Cheltenham, legendary jockey Ruby Walsh – who won the Triumph just once during his riding career, would rather be on board Vauban. You can listen to the Cheltenham Countdown show in full BELOW.

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Ruby Walsh:

“I had a very poor record in the Triumph and probably not allowing for that improvement within the year whereas you would tend to know which was the best Supreme horse or Ballymore horse and the same over fences for the RSA or the Arkle, you would have a distinct pecking order whereas with juveniles they just can keep improving and I most certainly didn’t get that right very much in my career as a jockey.

“Even last year I thought Zanahiyr would win this race and he didn’t, Quilixios was the better horse on the day so I find juveniles particularly hard to assess and gauge.

“Vauban has to improve but who knows what Pied Piper’s going to have improved again. Fil Dor looks the least likely to improve I think – he looks probably the most exposed.

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“Thankfully my career didn’t revolve around trying to pick the winner of the Triumph, I’m hoping my life won’t revolve around trying to tip the winner of the Triumph.

“It’s a toss of a coin between Vauban and Pied Piper but I’m more inclined to side with the best stayer on the New Course at Cheltenham and that’s Pied Piper. He’s proven he can do that but I hope Vauban can get up that hill.

“If you made me pick one to ride, I’d go with Vauban. That race at Leopardstown has a good enough record going to Cheltenham. He looks the obvious one but it’s a competitive race.”