Ruby Walsh

DOB: May 14, 1979

Ruby (short for Rupert) is associated with Paul Nicholls’ stables in Britain and Willie Mullins’ stables in Ireland. He is the son of 11-times Irish amateur champion jockey, Ted Walsh, now a trainer and television pundit.

Ruby followed in his father's footsteps when capturing the Irish amateur riders’ championship (1996-97) at the age of 19 while still studying for his Leaving Certificate. He was crowned champion Irish National Hunt jockey in his first season as a professional (1998/99) and has taken the title a further six times.

His record at the Cheltenham Festival is phenomenal. Walsh overtook Tony McCoy as the most successful current rider at The Festival thanks to an unprecedented seven victories in 2009.

After scoring on Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle on day one, Walsh rattled off three successes in as many races on the second day, winning on Mikael D’Haguenet and Cooldine for Willie Mullins and guiding the Paul Nicholls-trained Master Minded to a second successive victory in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.

He also triumphed in Thursday’s championship contest, the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, on Big Buck’s and ended a phenomenal week by winning on American Trilogy in the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle and partnering Kauto Star to an historic second victory in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Walsh has now enjoyed 24 Cheltenham Festival victories and only needs one more success to equal the all-time record set by Pat Taaffe.

Walsh has won the John Smith's Grand National twice - in 2000 aboard Papillon, trained by his father, and the Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter in 2005. He followed Papillon's Aintree triumph with an Irish Grand National victory aboard his father's Commanche Court but surpassed that achievement in the 2004/2005 season when his John Smith's Grand National success aboard Hedgehunter was augmented by wins in the Welsh National (Silver Birch) and Irish Grand National (Numbersixvalverde).

Walsh has recently signed as Racing UK ambassador until the end of the season.

Cheltenham Festival Wins (24):

Spinal Research Supreme: 2006 Noland

William Hill: 2006 Dun Doire

Weatherbys Bumper: 1998 Alexander Banquet, 2005 Missed That

Byrne: 2002 Blowing Wind

Irish Independent Arkle: 2003 Azertyuiop

Seasons Holidays Queen Mother: 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual: 2004 St Pirran

Vincent O’Brien County: 2004 Sporazene, 2006 Desert Quest, 2009 American Trilogy

Ryanair: 2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis

RSA Chase: 2007 Denman, 2009 Cooldine

totesport Gold Cup: 2007 & 2009 Kauto Star

Neptune: 2008 Fiveforthree, 2009 Mikael D’Haguenet

JCB Triumph: 2008 Celestial Halo

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle: 2009 Quevega

Ladbrokes World: 2009 Big Buck’s