Ruby Walsh

Ruby Walsh is a professional jockey who rides under national hunt rules. He was born in County Kildare in 1979 and has gone on to be one of the most successful jockeys in the sport.

The Irishman is the son of trainer Ted Walsh, who rode as an amateur jockey in his younger days. Ruby's sister Katie has also followed in her father's footsteps as she too occasionally rides as an amateur. She holds the record for the highest placed finish for a female competitor in a Grand National, coming home third on Seabass.

In the early stages of his career, Ruby won the Irish amateur title in the 1996/97 and 1997/98 season. The first of those came at the age of 18 when he was already making a name for himself in the sport as a star of the future.

During the 1998/99 campaign, Walsh became the Irish Champion Jockey, which marked the first of the eight titles he has achieved so far in his home country.

In his opening attempt at the Grand National in 2000 he won the race aged just 20. That was on board Papillon for his father Ted. The horse was subject to a big gamble in Ireland and was successfully ridden by the youngster to land the spoils.

Walsh's second Grand National win came five years later with Hedgehunter. This time it was for trainer Willie Mullins. The nine-year old went off as the 7/1 favourite at Aintree to land the most famous steeplechase in the world.

The blue riband event in national hunt racing is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the County Kildare jockey has been successful on two occasions. He rode Kauto Star to the prize in 2007 for trainer Paul Nicholls. Then, two years later, the pair regained the crown, the first time that feat has been achieved in the 3m2f contest.

Walsh has had lots of winners at the Cheltenham Festival in his career so far but he had to wait until 2011 to win the Champion Hurdle for the first time. Hurricane Fly provided him with that honour. The horse also won the race in 2013 with the Irishman on board.

In May 2013, Walsh announced that he was to end his 11-year association with Nicholls in the UK, to concentrate on riding more in Ireland. He is currently continuing his successful partnership with Irish Champion Trainer Mullins. 

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