Ladbrokes' Hayley O'Connor has tipped punters to get on Ireland for the Prestbury Cup ahead of tomorrow's Cheltenham Festival kick-off in the Cotswolds.
As an expected 200,000 people prepare to make the pilgrimage to Gloucestershire, Hayley joined Ivan on Breakfast to preview the action, just as she will every morning throughout the Festival as part of Newstalk's extensive coverage.
Britain are 1/3 favourites for the Prestbury Cup (awarded to whichever nation, Ireland or Britain, trains the most winners over the 27 races), but Hayley reckons the raiders are "absolutely huge price" at 9/4.
As for the most-talked-about horse, "Very Wood, who runs tomorrow in the four-miler," she said.
"There's been serious chat about him ... it's going to be hard to get a bit of value so he's the one that I'd ear-mark."
Noel Meade's charge, who at 33/1 claimed last year's Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, is currently 4/1 for tomorrow's National Hunt Chase.
Hayley will also be one of 12 jockeys in the charity Flat race for amateur riders, the final contest on the third day of the Festival (Thursday) and featuring a mix of well-known people in the racing world and others keen to take part.
"It's been absolutely brilliant," she said of preparations. "There's been a couple of hair-raising moments ... but it's been it's been fantastic."
Prestbury Cup (GB v Ire) lives to fight another year at Cheltenham Festival. Recent Irish winners (27 races) 2014 - 12 2013 -14 2012 -5
— Paddock Preview (@PaddockPreview) January 24, 2015
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