Walsh looks home and hosed but Cooper rates best of the rest

Graham Dench runs the rule over the Cheltenham Festival jockey markets with a week to go before the big kick off...

There appeared real value to be had in opposing long-odds-on favourites in the Prestbury Cup and top owner betting, but this is harder. Barring accidents Ruby Walsh is surely home and hosed, isn't he?

Walsh is the most successful post-war festival jockey by a country mile with 52 wins and has been top jockey in eight of the last ten years, including in seven of the last eight. It's true that some of his most keenly anticipated mounts have fallen by the wayside, but he still has an outstanding book.