Ruby Walsh odds-on favourite to be leading jockey at Aintree
Wednesday 6 April 2016 17:09, UK
Ruby Walsh is 1/6 favourite with Sky Bet to claim the Leading Rider Award at the Crabbie's Grand National Festival.
Racing UK has teamed up with Aintree Racecourse to sponsor the gong, which sees the leading jockey over the three-day meeting collect £1,500 and an Inkerman-produced trophy.
The runner-up receives £1,000, the third £750, the fourth £500 and fifth £250, while £500 goes to the leading conditional jockey.
Walsh took the Cheltenham Festival prize after riding seven winners for Willie Mullins, as well as claiming three seconds and two thirds throughout the meeting, so is unsurprisingly short at 1/6 with Sky Bet.
The Leeds-based firm have also priced up a 'Without Ruby Walsh' market, which is topped by Barry Geraghty at 7/4 and Bryan Cooper at 4/1.
The champion jockey-elect Richard Johnson can be backed at 5/1 without Walsh, while Sam Twiston-Davies is 6/1 and Nico de Boinville 14s.
Seb Vance, Racing UK's Director of PR & Communications, said: "Racing UK has been a long-standing supporter of the jockeys through sponsorships and a close working relationship with the PJA, so we are always keen to get involved with the real ambassadors of our sport.
"Ruby Walsh looks to have a formidable book of rides and it will be no surprise if we end up presenting our premier sponsored jockey with the Inkerman trophy on Saturday afternoon."
Walsh will be previewing his rides every day of Aintree at 12:15 BST on Racing UK, which is the only place to watch live all 21 races of the Crabbie's Grand National Festival. See racinguk.com/join for more details.
