Sir AP McCoy Reveals His Two Unbeatable Cheltenham Festival Bankers
The legendary former jockey Sir AP McCoy, a 20-time champion with 31 Cheltenham Festival wins to his name, has pinpointed two horses he believes are unstoppable at this year's prestigious meeting. In an exclusive insight, McCoy highlighted the exceptional talents of Fact To File and Majborough, stating they are too close to call as his top bankers.
McCoy's Dual Picks for Cheltenham Success
Since retiring from the saddle, Sir AP McCoy has taken on roles as a pundit for ITV Racing and an ambassador for bookmaker William Hill, while also working with billionaire owner JP McManus. McManus, who is expected to dominate as the top owner at the festival, fields a strong team in his iconic green and gold colours, including several leading contenders.
Among McManus's most fancied runners are Mighty Park in the Supreme, The New Lion in the Champion Hurdle, Majborough in the Champion Chase, Fact To File in the Ryanair, and Dinoblue in the Mares' Chase. However, McCoy's focus is firmly on two of these stars.
In-Depth Analysis of the Top Contenders
When asked to name his banker for the meeting, McCoy explained, "It would be hard to split Fact To File and Majborough. Both go to their races with huge chances and they both have an enormous level of ability."
He elaborated on Fact To File, who is defending his crown in the Ryanair Chase: "I think he's going to be very hard to beat. What he did in the Irish Gold Cup was special, as was what he did in the Ryanair last year, so if he replicates that, he will be different class in it again."
Regarding Majborough, McCoy noted his outstanding performance at the Dublin Racing Festival: "He seems to relish being ridden prominently and his jumping really improved. It was gutting when he got beat in the Arkle last year, but with the improvement he's made this season, I think they'll struggle to get near him in the Champion Chase."
Other Expert Opinions from the Racing World
Fellow William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty, speaking at a Cheltenham preview event, offered a different perspective. He selected Kopek Des Bordes as his banker, praising the horse's class and potential.
Geraghty said, "My banker for Cheltenham this year has to be Kopek Des Bordes. He's a horse with so much class, so much potential and was so impressive in the Supreme last year. He didn't back up that performance from the Supreme at Punchestown, but he put in a really good performance in Navan and his jumping improved massively as the race developed."
He added, "He's done two proper schooling sessions since which will have helped bridge the gap in experience compared to Lulamba and his rivals. Kopek Des Bordes just has so much about him, I think he could be a baby Sprinter Sacre."
This blend of insights from racing legends like McCoy and Geraghty sets the stage for an exciting Cheltenham Festival, with high stakes and top-tier competition expected across all events.
