Ruby Walsh

Ruby Walsh has been a dominant force on both sides of the Irish Sea for many years now. Despite jetting between Ireland and Britain throughout each season, he has managed to be crowned Champion National Hunt Jockey in Ireland on eight occasions. Riding the pick of the horses trained by both Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls, Walsh has amassed a remarkable haul of big-race wins and is generally acknowledged as being one of the best jump jockeys that Ireland has produced in recent decades.

Principle Trainers: Paul Nicholls, Willie Mullins

Ruby WalshNotable Wins In Ireland:

  • Kerry National (Northern Alliance 2009, Euro Leader 2005, Banasan 2004)
  • Kerrygold Champion Chase (Master Minded 2009, Twist Magic 2008)
  • World Series Hurdle at Punchestown (Fiveforthree 2009, Asian Maze 2006)
  • Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle (Mikael D’Haguenet 2009, Glencove Marina 2007, Nicanor 2006)
  • Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown (Hurricane Fly 2009, Iktitaf 2006, Sadlers Wings 2004, Nobody Told Me 2003, Davenport Milenium 2002)
  • Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (Neptune Collonges 2009)
  • Dr. P.J. Moriarty Novice Chase (Cooldine 2009, J’y Vole 2008)
  • Irish Champion Hurdle (Brave Inca 2009)
  • Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle (Mikael D’Haguenet 2008)
  • James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase (Kauto Star 2008, Taranis 2007)
  • Galway Plate (Oslot 2008, Moscow Express 1999)
  • Guinness Gold Cup (Neptune Collonges 2008 + 2007)
  • Lexus Chase (Denman 2007)
  • Rohcon/Ascon Novice Chase (Southern Vic 2005)
  • Irish Grand National (Numbersixvalverde 2005, Commanche Court 2000)
  • Champion 4-Y-O Hurdle (Sporazene 2003, Holy Orders 2001)
  • Emo Oil Champion Hurdle (Davenport Milenium 2002)
  • Powers Gold Cup (Big-And-Bold 2002, Rince Ri 1999)
  • Irish Arkle Trophy (Assessed 2002)
  • Pierse Hurdle (Adamant Approach 2002)
  • Drogheda Chase (Micko’s Dream 2001)
  • Pierse Leopardstown Chase (Micko’s Dream 2001)
  • Heineken Gold Cup (Commanche Court 2000, Imperial Call 1999)
  • Deloitte Novice Hurdle (Alexander Banquet 1999)
  • Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Alexander Banquet 1998)

Notable Wins Abroad:

  • totesport Bowl Chase (What A Friend 2010)
  • Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle  (Sanctuaire 2010)
  • World Hurdle (Big Buck’s 2010 + 2009)
  • David Nicholson Mares´ Hurdle (Quevega 2010 + 2009)
  • King George VI Chase (Kauto Star 2009 + 2008 + 2007 + 2006)
  • Tingle Creek Chase (Twist Magic 2009, Master Minded 2008, Kauto Star 2006 + 2005)
  • Hennessy Gold Cup (Denman 2009, Strong Flow 2003)
  • Betfair Chase (Kauto Star 2009 + 2007 + 2006)
  • Cheltenham Gold Cup (Kauto Star 2009 + 2007)
  • Queen Mother Champion Chase (Master Minded 2009 + 2008, Azertyuiop 2004)
  • Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Mikael D’Haguenet 2009, Fiveforthree 2008)
  • Royal & Sun Alliance Chase (Cooldine 2009, Denman 2007)
  • County Hurdle (American Trilogy 2009, Desert Quest 2006, Sporazene 2004)
  • Feltham Novices´ Chase (Breedsbreeze 2008)
  • Triumph Hurdle (Celestial Halo 2008)
  • Ascot Chase (Kauto Star 2008)
  • Ryanair Chase (Taranis 2007, Thisthatandtother 2005)
  • Aintree Hurdle (Asian Maze 2006, Sacundai 2003, Ilnamar 2002)
  • Midlands Grand National (GVA Ireland 2006)
  • Supreme Novice Hurdle (Noland 2006)
  • William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (Dun Doire 2006)
  • Christmas Hurdle (Feathard Lady 2005)
  • Aintree Grand National (Hedgehunter 2005, Papillon 2000)
  • Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (Asian Maze 2005)
  • Cheltenham Champion Bumper (Missed That 2005, Alexander Banquet 1998)
  • Welsh National (Silver Birch 2004)
  • Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Garde Champetre 2004)
  • Grand Annual Chase (St Pirran 2004)
  • Betfred Gold Cup (Ad Hoc 2003 + 2001)
  • Arkle Trophy (Azertyuiop 2003)
  • Scottish National (Take Control 2002)
  • Mildmay Of Flete (Blowing Wind 2002)

Early Days

The son of Ted Walsh, Champion Amateur Jockey in Ireland on several occasions, Aintree Grand National winning trainer and well known television racing pundit, 30-year-old Ruby has made great strides since he began his riding career in the mid-90’s. Crowned Champion Amateur Jockey in the 1996/7 and 1999/8 seasons, he turned professional shortly afterwards and gained the first of his six Champion Jockey Titles in his first full season as a professional rider in the 1998/9 season.

It was near the conclusion of the 1999/2000 season that Ruby gained what will perhaps always remain his most memorable and satisfying win on the racecourse, with him riding his father’s Papillion to victory in the world’s most famous jumps race, the Aintree Grand National. He went on to win that great race once more on the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter in 2005.

Cheltenham Festival Success

Ruby rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner as a amateur rider when guiding Alexander Banquet to victory in the Champion Bumper in 1998 and has added a further 30 winners in the intervening period and in addition has been the leading rider at the meeting in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 2009 Festival was undoubtedly the most memorable for Walsh, as he broke the record for the number of winners ridden by a jockey at the greatest National Hunt festival in the world, visiting the winner’s enclosure on no less than seven occasions including the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Kauto Star and the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Master Minded. The 2010 Festival was proved notable for Ruby as he became the winning-most jockey in the history of the Cheltenham Festival. 2011 saw him gain even more fans as, having only returned from a very bad leg break just days before the Festival commenced, Walsh confounded those that doubted his fitness by riding four winners, including the Champion Hurdle on Hurricane Fly and a third World Hurdle on Big Buck’s.

Having persistently bounced back from serious injuries to prove himself to be better than ever, Ruby Walsh looks destined to become one of the greatest jump jockeys in the history of National Hunt racing.

Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated April 2011