Ruby Walsh Makes his 2026 Triumph Hurdle Predictions “He will keep ‘at it’ and might be overpriced at 40/1”

Last Updated on 16/02/2026 by Andy Clark

Ruby Walsh has been chatting about the 2026 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and despite thinking Narciso Has is the most likely winner of the opening race on Friday, he has also pinpointed a 40/1 outsider worth an each-way bet.

Narciso Has the Most Likely Winner

Speaking on the Cheltenham Countdown podcast for Paddy Power, Ruby Walsh said the following about Narciso Has:

I love everything NARCISO HAS has done. He improved a good bit from his run at Fairyhouse behind Mange Tout. He was good at Christmas and very good at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Going along in front, he would just love a little bit of company. He’s able to do it, but with a little bit of company, he would have made it easier for Mark Walsh to be slipping along even earlier than he was.

The Triumph Hurdle track is made for him. I can see him coming away from the second last with a clatter of horses queuing up behind him. When they reach where the running rail stops and they start heading for the roadway, he’ll just start to open up and I can already picture him going to the last hurdle.

He’s a strong stayer with a strong mindset and mentality, too. Nothing seems to faze him. He’s really relaxed, he has a great way of doing things, he’s a good, solid jumper, obviously every horse needs a little bit of luck on the day, but he’s ticking all the boxes and he’ll be really hard to beat.

At the time of writing, Narciso Has is the 11/8 favourite in the Triumph Hurdle betting with several top firms including bet365, Betfred and Boylesports.

Second favourite is the Rich Ricci owned Selma De Vary, who was highly spoken about before even running on these shores. She ran well at the Dublin Racing Festival and kept on well to finish second, ahead of Mange Tout at Leopardstown.

Speaking about Selma De Vary, Rubiy Walsh said:

She’s a mare for next year – but she’s quick. It’s very hard for five-year-olds, but I’d say she’s a very good filly that could develop into possibly a Mares’ Hurdle contender. I could see her winning races shorter than two miles, but I just don’t see her as a classic Triumph Hurdle type, to tell you the truth.

Ruby Walsh’s Triumph Hurdle Each-Way Tip

Away from the top of the market, Ruby also mentions a horse called ONE HORSE TOWN, who is currently best price 50/1 with Ladbrokes for the Triumph Hurdle on Friday 13th March.

Ruby’s quote was:

One at a price is ONE HORSE TOWN, trained by Harry Derham. He will keep ‘at it’ and might be overpriced in the non runner money back market.

It is worth noting for betting purposes, that Ladbrokes are not offering non-runner no-bet on the 2026 Cheltenham Festival as things stand, therefore if your horse doesn’t run, the bet is classed as a loser.

If you wanted some insurance, take the 40/1 with Betfred for One Horse Town. Betfred are offering non-runner no-bet, meaning if the horse doesn’t line-up in the race, you get your money refunded.

1

Bet £10 get £50 in Free Bets BETFRED50

9.8/10 Read Review

GET OFFER

New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.

Andy Clark

Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks on the sporting calendar, and his expertise in betting promotions and marketing means you always get the best offers.