Over the past ten years Ruby Walsh has grown into one of the most famous and successful jockeys on both sides of the Irish Sea. Walsh has won just about every race there is to win and any horse he rides is always one to consider as he holds two of the most prestigious jobs in the sport at the moment. Walsh works as a stable jockey to Willie Mullins who is the Champion Trainer in Ireland and Paul Nicholls who holds the same position in the UK meaning he has his pick of the very best horses.
Walsh will always have a top ride in the Grand National with his pick of the Mullins and Nicholls yard, the agreement is that he will get the strongest contender from the two yards and that alone makes him a jockey to follow. Ruby Walsh rode his first Grand National winner back in 2000 on board Papillon, it was a special win for him as not only was it was a horse trained by his father but it was also his first ride in the race. Walsh followed up that win with another one at Aintree on board the great Hedgehunter who won the National in 2005, which was a win for trainer Willie Mullins and was perhaps the best National horse of his generation. Walsh rode Hedgehunter to third place in 2004, before winning in 2005 and finishing second in 2006 to complete a remarkable three years for the horse and jockey in the National.
As well as having success in the Grand National, Ruby Walsh has a remarkable number of Cheltenham Festival wins on his CV. Walsh has so far won 30 races at the biggest meeting for the season with most remembering his partnership with the great Kauto Star as the highlight of his brilliant career.
