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Ruby Walsh: a jewel in the Irish racing crown

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Wayne Bailey scrutinises the career of one of this generation's greatest jumps jockeys and pulls out some punting tips

Last January, I decided it was time to introduce my three-year-old daughter to the excitement of live horse racing. Armed with the Racing Post under my arm, and Dora the Explorer under hers, we took the short trip to our local track - Leopardstown.

I remember thinking that the 14:55 handicap hurdle was a particularly difficult puzzle, so I decided not to have a bet. Instead, I thought I'd take her to the parade ring to watch the horses before they left for the track. As they left, Ruby Walsh gave my daughter a friendly wave, and she instantly decided that Ruby's horse was her favourite.

Throwing years of form study, discipline and conventional wisdom out the window, I took this 'sign' and couldn't resist sticking a tenner down on her behalf. Thankfully, this was one of the rare occasions that a mug bet had a successful outcome, as Killeen Castle did the business at 13/2 and Ruby Walsh ended up in the winners enclosure yet again.

I'm certainly glad that it was Ruby that waved to her that day, and not one or two other jockeys that will remain unnamed!

As a form student, I'm certainly not going to encourage anyone to place 'fun' bets like the above, as I think we all know what the long-term financial outcome would be. It is however, important to note who is on board each horse, and consider the effect that the jockey may have on your Betfair balance.

For Irish racing fans, Ruby has become a household name, due to his incredible win rate. It's only ten years however, that the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey made the transition from amateur to professional - so now would be a good time to review his achievements to date but more importantly, contemplate any possible profitable angles that he may provide for the punter in the future.

The son of amateur jockey Ted Walsh, the 27 year-old Kildare man burst on to the Irish racing scene in the late 90s, and quickly proved that he was not happy to live in the shadows of fellow Irish National Hunt legend, Tony McCoy. He's no stranger to Britain and has taken plenty of top races in recent years, the most memorable perhaps, being Kauto Star in this years' Cheltenham Gold Cup.

In the early days, Ruby didn't hang around, and just two seasons into his professional career, he completed an incredible double when winning both the English and Irish Grand Nationals on board Papillion and Commanche Court respectively. In fact, Walsh is the only Jockey to win the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh Grand Nationals to date. Most of Walsh's races take place in Ireland, but he makes regular trips across the water, and is successful on both sides of the Irish Sea.

In Ireland, Walsh gets most of his rides from trainer Willie Mullins. Since teaming up with Mullins, he has won 269 races from 1271 to date, which represents a 21 per cent strike rate. It's always worth noting the Walsh/Mullins combination in bumpers (National Hunt Flat Races), with a win rate of one in four. Interestingly, when Walsh and Mullins team up in the UK, the results are not nearly as good with only three wins from 54 races to date. Therefore, the Walsh/Mullins combination should be avoided, or even a lay considered if the race is in the UK.

When riding in the UK, Walsh takes most of his rides from Paul Nicholls, and this jockey/trainer combination has proved highly successful. Out of 1242 rides, there have been 337 wins to date, which represents a 27.1 per cent strike rate. It's worth noting when Nicholls books Walsh to ride in novice (non-handicap) hurdles or chases, as their strike rate in such races is 34.7%.

Walsh rides at Tramore today (Thursday October 11th), so now is a good time to scrutinise his record here. To date, he has rode 178 horses at the course with 38 wins (a 21 per cent strike rate). Blindly backing every horse rode by Walsh at this track would have produced £83.30 profit for the backer to SP (using £100 stakes). He does particularly well in Chases at Tramore, with a 22 per cent strike rate and a return of £138.40 to £100 stakes for the backer.

Walsh has two rides at Tramore today: aboard Boleybawn Quickstar at 16:55 in the www.tramore-racecourse.com Maiden Hurdle; on Final Alert in the Graun Hill Handicap Hurdle at 17:25.