Jockey/horse starting positions at Cheltenham

[Jasolong]

Hi guys,
This is a topic that really has bugged me for a few years.

Every festival and actually quite a lot throughout the year it seems that Ruby Walsh always has choice of position at the start of the races, I.E he has them on the rail up with the pace in what I call the PLUM position. It’s perfect. On the rail saving ground and either setting the pace or close to the pace. It’s extremely rare to see ruby Walsh out wide or not up with the pace at the festival. I know you may see them as front runners but he’s always got the rail in races where he’s not the only front runner.
Is it experience? As in he is one of the most experienced and successful jockeys that other jockeys let him dictate where his horse will be positioned? I know if I was a jockey I would be challenging at the tapes to get that plum position.
Why don’t other experienced jockeys like Johnson or Geraghty is this position much?
It seems that not only does Walsh ride all the best horses but he gets to choose where he wants to start his races on them.

Another point that annoys me is that jockeys like Geraghty who I’ve grown to hate more and more! He absolutely loves taking horses wide. Not just 1 or 2 horses wide very often 3,4,5! Off the rails.
Now I understand that jockeys do this occasionally to get a good look at the obstacle in the hope that the horse will produce a better jump. And yes perhaps they will jump a little better but they are constantly losing ground being that wide! I’d much rather be closer to rail and risk the chance of a bad jump than be wide all the way round jump perfectly but fail to win anyway because you’ve ran so much further than a horse that been on the rail the whole race IE ruby Walsh in his plum position on the rail who actually doesn’t have his obstacles obscured because the other jockeys tend not to run I front of him.
A prime example of this is Yanworth in the Neptune last year. yorkhill was on the rail the whole race and Yanworth was 3/4 horses wide the whole race. It’s an absolute miracle that he got as close to yorkhill as he did after forfeiting so much ground. I completely blame the lose on Geraghty. Yanworth was definitely the best horse in the race and he got him beat. Clearly yorkhill is very good but no one can convince me that yorkhill would have beaten Yanworth if Yanworth was on the rail the whole race aswell. I know Geraghty may have been trying to get a better look at the hurdles but there wasn’t that many runners ! I think 8 or 9. And it’s Cheltenham you have to take a risk to win races sometimes. Put him close to rail I’m amongst horses but at least your saving ground. Rant over lol

My point is the start of the race can sometimes win/lose people races straight away. Ruby Walsh is the master of this and I hardly ever see Walsh take a horse wide to get a look at an obstacle. I don’t even think Walsh believes that’s a thing lol. Seems like something someone made up to give punters an excuse to why a cert has got beat going wide. I also want to know why there are not more jockeys trying to get this plum position on the rail. It’s always Walsh!
Anyone agree or am I talking bollocks?
I won’t take offence haha

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