Ruby Walsh's Cheltenham guide: our top pundit shares his NAP and a 33-1 tip

Ruby Walsh, the most successful jockey in Cheltenham Festival history with 59 wins, guides us through the big graded races on each day of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, and has a 33-1 fancy in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. Plus, don't forget to check out our Cheltenham free bet offers.

I thought there would be more horses than looks likely here, but it does look really competitive, and that always sets the meeting up so well. I think favourite backers could miss out. Not because Old Park Star isn’t good enough to win it, as he looks really good – but because there looks to be a huge amount of talent in the race this year. Leader d’Allier, El Cairos, Sober Glory, you can make a case for any of them, and I think the bookmakers have got lots running for them against the favourite.

I’m a huge Kopek Des Bordes fan. He had to convert me, as I wasn’t sure that fences would be right for him after watching him over hurdles last season, but he was fine at Navan and he's schooled well recently at Punchestown and Fairyhouse.

I think he will be too fast for them, especially over this trip as I think Lulamba and Romeo Coolio – who are both very good - will be seen to best effect once they go over further. Kopek Des Bordes should have too much pace for them; he’s my NAP of the meeting.

I’d be worried about this quickening ground for both Brighterdaysahead and Tutti Quanti, and I think Lossiemouth is just a better horse over two and a half miles.

Cheekpieces have been mentioned, but they tend to be for horses lacking concentration or who aren’t putting it all in, which doesn’t seem like Lossiemouth to me. I think the trip might be an issue with Poniros too, as he probably wants further and needs to improve.

Golden Ace is a good mare, but I keep coming back to The New Lion, who I think will be just too good for her. The only question mark with him is his jumping, but I think the Skeltons can pick up their first Champion Hurdle.

I know he’s entered for Tuesday but if he was mine, I’d run Mighty Park in this race as it looks the easier contest for him; I think his inexperience would be more of a hindrance in the Supreme. I’d be strong on him if he ran in this race.

Having said that, No Drama This End is a gorgeous horse who impressed me with his jumping at Sandown, and you have to jump the last three well to win a Turners, but I think King Rasko Grey will come forward from Leopardstown and he will be right in the mix. That was only his second start over hurdles and he will have learned plenty.

I’m yet to be convinced by Final Demand, as I thought he was brilliant at Navan but pretty workmanlike at Limerick as I thought the horses who were close up behind him coming down the hill shouldn’t even have been in the picture.

The Big Westerner is a very good mare, a bit green and keen in the Albert Bartlett last year which isn’t like her, but I think really soft ground suits her best.

I like Kaid d’Authie, the penny is really started to drop with him and he’s really kept on improving. This looks a deeper race than we’ve had for a while, but he looks up to it.

This is surely Majborough’s to lose after Marine Nationale’s withdrawal. I didn’t like him at Cork – I thought, ‘geez, you’ve had four runs over fences as a novice and you’re running around like that on the approach’, - but I think cheekpieces really turned him inside out last time.

The Champion Chase has a funny record of favourites blowing out in the last couple of years, but if he gets into a rhythm he’ll be impossible to beat.

Love Sign d'Aunou was very good at Naas, as was The Irish Avatar at Navan, but I think the value call here lies with Keep Him Company who has that little bit more experience, was good at Leopardstown over Christmas, and I thought he was pretty tough there.

I think Bambino Fever may well win, but she’s no great value compared to Oldschool Outlaw who improved when winning at Fairyhouse after beating Bambino Fever and she looks too big a price to confirm their Naas form.

Obviously this looks a straight match between Lossiemouth and Wodhooh, and I just think Lossiemouth looks so much more comfortable over this trip. It might only be 1mph slower than when they race over two miles, but she can’t dictate the race there, whereas she looks in her comfort zone over this distance. Wodhooh will make her go, but Lossiemouth is a confident selection.

With the ground drying all the time, I like Honesty Policy here. That was a cracking effort on his comeback in the Long Walk Hurdle and I thought he made huge strides last spring time, going from winning a maiden hurdle in February to Aintree, where he mowed them down late, before just falling short against Jasmin De Vaux at Punchestown.

Teahupoo has been there and done it, but Bob Olinger had too many gears for him last year and that might be the case again. I’m not sure Kabral Du Mathan will get the trip, and I think Ma Shantou could be a bigger danger.

This is where the NRNB concession is your friend. Whichever of Fact To File or Gaelic Warrior is confirmed will go off heavily odds-on, so for me it’s a no-brainer to back them both now, as you’d be in the right position on the day. When the four runners crossed the line close together in the King George, my instinct was that Gaelic Warrior was the stronger stayer.

It’s disappointing for the race that there is no Narciso Has, who looked a cracking juvenile, but hopefully he won’t be out for too long, and I think Proactif is an able deputy.

Macho Man may get closer to him than at Fairyhouse, but I think that if anything finishes in front of Proactif they will win it.

I’m not sure Selma De Vary will stay; she’s quite a light filly and I think she might be a better horse next season. Take nothing away from Minella Study and Maestro Conti who were both good here the last day, but One Horse Town hasn’t done much for that form since.

Panic Attack has been a revelation but Dinoblue – ‘Mrs Reliable’ – is a year younger and I think she’s pretty solid. Her jumping cost her when beaten at Navan in November but she’s been pretty much foot-perfect since.

It’ll be hard for Spindleberry to get over the Irish Gold Cup, and Diva Luna could be more of a contender. If Lossiemouth did run in the Champion Hurdle, it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Jade De Grugy go for the Mares’ Hurdle rather than this.

I’m not totally sold on Doctor Steinberg as I didn’t think the Lacy Hurdle he won last time was a good race. Thedeviluno was very good at Doncaster where Sean O’Keeffe gave him a great ride, while Espresso Milan has a squeak as does Doctor Du Mesnil who should really like going up in trip. But I like one at a huge price here [33-1]: Road Exile.

Gordon also has Spinningayarn, but this fellow impressed me when he beat Copacabana at Navan – I loved the way he went by at the line.

A three-runner Moscow Flyer Hurdle didn’t suit him as he had to make the running and never looked like he was concentrating, but this will be much more suitable.

This looks like it is going to be a cracking race for the public to watch above all. We’ve no idea at this stage who will go off favourite, and I know the vibes have been strong for last year's winner Inothewayurthinkin, but you couldn’t back him with what you’ve seen with your own eyes this season.

I can’t see any world in which Paul doesn’t ride Galopin Des Champs who has been showing a real spark at home, looking as good as ever, and he’s probably the one to be on at this stage.

The jockeys on the strong stayers like Haiti Couleurs and Galopin Des Champs will surely want to make this a real test for the speed horses like The Jukebox Man, Jango Baie and Gaelic Warrior or Fact To File, and it could be a fascinating watch for everyone. I’d want a bigger price than he is at the moment to get involved with Gaelic Warrior, but I do think he will stay.