Walsh sides with Vautour in Supreme

Ruby Walsh expects to ride Vautour, rather than talented stable companion Wicklow Brave, in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.

Vautour is towards the top of ante-post lists for the Festival curtain-raiser, having won each of his three starts for Willie Mullins, for whom he completed his hat-trick with an impressive victory over The Tullow Tank in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Wicklow Brave has not yet been tested in Graded company, but has looked the part in winning his two starts over timber.

Walsh insists it is not easy to decide which horse to ride, but told Racing UK: "I am probably leaning towards Vautour as I've won the race on stayers in the past.

"He seems to be a good stayer but they all have at least two more bits of work to do and they have to travel.

"But Wicklow Brave is a good horse, he's got a lot of speed. He jumped only OK the last day but I think he'll improve on that and he's a hell of a good horse.

"I hope I'm on the right one."