Ruby Walsh nominates 33/1 outsider with Gold Cup chance

January 14, 2026

Ruby Walsh has nominated a 33/1 outsider with an each-way chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Walsh knows a thing or two about what it takes to win the race, successful on two occasions in 2007 and 2009 on the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star.

He’s also the most prolific jockey in Cheltenham Festival history with 59 winners, 16 clear of Barry Geraghty in second.

He was stable jockey to Willie Mullins for over two decades and now plays a behind-the-scenes role in the training operation, giving him a close look at Closutton’s biggest stars on a daily basis.

Speaking on Paddy Power’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast ‘Cheltenham Countdown,’ Walsh gave a mention to I Am Maximus who could be going under the radar for the Gold Cup.

“You’re going to have a big field, lots of competition and it will be a stamina test. I think one at a price who’s going to need a bit of luck to win, but I could see them running in the money is I Am Maximus.

“I know he’s ten which some people will say is too old but I think on a different day he may well have won the Savills Chase and I just think at the price, he’s worth a punt each-way for me in a Gold Cup where I think the bookmakers will get a result.”

I Am Maximus sprung a pleasant surprise in the Savills at Leopardstown over Christmas, runner-up to Affordale Fury and almost a length in front of two-time Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs.

At odds of 50/1, Derek O’Connor’s mount made an audacious bid for glory around the outside turning into the home straight and could’ve finished a lot closer had the winner not hampered him at the last fence.

With Mark Walsh set to take the ride on Inothewayurthinkin, soon-to-be retained jockey for JP McManus Harry Cobden could be in line to partner I Am Maximus at Cheltenham.

Affordale Fury gives Sam Ewing another Grade One Christmas winner with Savills Chase glory 🏆

Galopin Des Champs a gallant third @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/2vf0E3ur24

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2025

It marked I Am Maximus’ first big performance in top-level company since winning the Drinmore as a novice in December 2023 – well-beaten in his attempts at the Savills and Irish Gold Cup over the last few seasons.

Extended trips have proved more his bag, an impressive winner of the Grand National in 2024 and he went very close to going back-to-back in the race when narrowly beaten by stablemate Nick Rockett in 2025.

In the famous green and gold hoops of McManus, the son of Authorized has won nearly £1.1 million in prize money across his career with just 20 starts under rules.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup looks a wide-open affair in 2026 with the ante-post market currently 6/1 the field.

Carrying an official rating of 168, 9lbs higher than his Aintree triumph, another Grand National bid looks unlikely and it makes sense for him to finish out his career in open company with a few more cracks at huge prizes.