Legendary jockey Ruby Walsh retires on a high following Punchestown Gold Cup win on Kemboy
Ruby Walsh announced his retirement after winning the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup on Kemboy on Wednesday.
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The 39-year-old rider opted to end his brilliant career in the saddle following a two-length victory aboard Willie Mullins' charge in the Grade One event.
Walsh was seen to wave goodbye to the Punchestown crowd crossing the line as Kemboy saw off the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo in fine style.
Walsh told Racing TV: "There comes a time when you think you've had enough of this and you want to do something different.
"I'm not much of a poker player so I didn't fancy rolling the dice tomorrow or Friday. I made up my mind that if Kemboy won, I would get out after that. I've been lucky to ride a lot of the best horses of my generation."
He retires having ridden over 2,500 winners and with more Cheltenham Festival successes to his name than any other rider in history.
At one point he had the best of both worlds riding as main jockey to Paul Nicholls in Britain and Willie Mullins in Ireland, before deciding to spend more time at home.
Walsh said: "I've been so lucky from day one to ride so many incredible horses. I never dreamt that I'd get to ride the likes of the equine athletes that I rode.
"No jockey is any good without the horses - the horses are such a huge part of it. From the very beginning - Imperial Call here 20 years ago to Alexander Banquet, Kauto Star, Big Buck's, Master Minded, Denman, Hurricane Fly, Quevega, Annie Power, Kemboy, Un De Sceaux - you name them!
"In anyone's lifetime, I rode all the best ones."
Walsh admitted he felt the time was right to hang up his saddle and is now planning to expand his burgeoning media career, rather than switching to the training ranks.
He said: "Everyone gets their fair share (of injuries) and I probably got a fraction more than my fair share. Someone has to have a high average for the lads at the low end and I was probably at the higher end of that. That's racing.
"To me, as I was always taught as a kid, it was all about the big day - my father taught that to me.
"I'd suppose if Rathvinden had won the Grand National, I probably would have bowed out on him - there's no bigger stage than that.
"That didn't happen, but after speaking to (wife) Gillian about it a good while ago, there comes a time when you just want to do something else.
"I've been a jump jockey for 24 years - I'm nearly 40 - and I thought I want to do something else for the next 24 or 25 years.
"I'm lucky enough to have great contacts and sponsors in Racing TV, the Irish Examiner and Paddy Power. Instead of them being bit part players in my life, they are going to be my life now.
"I think it's very unfair to compare horses from different generations - it's like comparing athletes or footballers or rugby players or anything.
"You can only be the best in your day, or on your day. Is Kemboy a better horse than Al Boum Photo? He was today but he mightn't be next March.
"That's what drives sport. Who is the best footballer - Messi or Ronaldo? Who knows - they are two brilliant footballers. That's the debate and argument and that's why people love sport.
"I don't think I'll be going training - not in the environment in this country. Horses will always be part of my life. I love working for Willie and I'll continue to do so."
Despite his great days in the saddle, Walsh believes he was on borrowed time in physical terms.
He said: "I don't think I'm going to miss the riding. When I broke my leg off Al Boum Photo in Cheltenham last year, the thoughts of another four months of rehab (did not appeal).
"I'll be honest, without (physiotherapist) Enda King's help in Santry, I wouldn't have even got the last three years out of my career.
"Physically what I've put my body through. (Dr) Brendan Doyle for 20 odd years, Lord have mercy on him. It was those guys that got an extra three or four years out of me that physically were amazing.
"I look across the weigh-room at Richard Johnson and I marvel at him. How at his age he has such commitment and drive to do what he does, to me, is amazing.
"You can't get inside a horse's mind and to think that you can master or control the horse - you can't.
"You're 10st and you're trying to control half a tonne. You can only try to get it to cooperate slightly in the way you want it.
"You can't get inside its mind or master it. You have to try and guide it and hope you get it right."
He really burst on to the scene when winning the 2000 Grand National on Papillon, trained by his father, Ted. He would also win the race on Mullins' Hedgehunter in 2005.
Perhaps the two horses who Walsh will be most remembered for, though, were the two-time Champion Hurdle hero Hurricane Fly and the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star.
Paul Nicholls trained Kauto Star and Walsh was aboard for each of his five King George VI Chase wins, as well as his Festival triumphs among numerous other wins.
He said: "The relationship with Kauto Star obviously particularly comes to mind. We had some amazing days with him, all the King Georges, the Gold Cups.
"We had some fantastic horses at that time - Denman, Neptune Collonges, Big Bucks, Master Minded - they were all just great days.
"I thought when I saw him ride that winner that I wouldn't be surprised if he called it a day after that, and it's just great to see him go out doing what he does best.
"He's been a fantastic jockey, a fantastic ambassador for the sport and he's just a great man. He's one of the best jockeys ever to ride for us and will always be a friend.
"I just wish him all the best and I'm thrilled to see him go out like this, in one piece with no more injuries."
12 special Ruby Walsh moments
Papillon - Grand National (2000)
In 1999, Tommy and Paul Carberry teamed up to win the Aintree spectacular for Ireland - and 12 months later it was the turn of Ted Walsh and his 20-year-old son, Ruby, who was having his first ride in the race. The horse was the subject of a huge public gamble, and in beating Mely Moss by a length and a quarter he set his rider on the road to superstardom.
Hedgehunter - Grand National (2005)
Hedgehunter had really taken to the big fences the year before, but ran too free for David Casey and was ultimately a tired faller at the last. Twelve months on he was sent off the 7-1 favourite in the hands of Walsh, who was able to avoid significant trouble at Becher's on the second circuit that saw Clan Royal carried out. Left in front from there, it was only at the elbow that a hitherto motionless Walsh asked his partner a question, with the response everything his backers could have hoped for.
Master Minded - Queen Mother Champion Chase (2008)
Walsh enjoyed an armchair ride on Master Minded as Paul Nicholls' brilliant two-miler produced one of the best performances ever seen at Cheltenham in destroying the previous year's winner Voy Por Ustedes by 19 lengths. The result was never in doubt as he pulled clear from halfway. It was a similar story 12 months later.
Kauto Star - Gold Cup (2009)
Walsh and Kauto Star shared so many big days, but their performance to regain the Gold Cup was extraordinary. After winning in 2007, Kauto Star had been beaten by Denman 12 months later. However, he turned the tables on his stablemate in some style as Walsh rode him with supreme confidence to come home 13 lengths clear for a Nicholls-trained one-two.
Denman - Hennessy Gold Cup (2009)
Walsh described Denman's 2009 Hennessy success as the "best weight-carrying performance" of a horse he had ever been involved with. It is hard to disagree, with 'The Tank' dishing out a three-and-a-half-length beating to stablemate and subsequent dual Grade One winner What A Friend - to whom he was conceding 22lb.
Big Buck's - World Hurdle (2011)
The third of four wins for Big Buck's in the stayers' championship was not straightforward, because Walsh dropped his whip as they took the lead before the final flight. The horse then hung left to add to his rider's troubles, but it did not stop the pair going on to gamely defeat young pretender Grands Crus.
Kauto Star - King George VI Chase (2011)
Kauto Star sent Kempton racegoers into a state of mass hysteria and consolidated his position as the most acclaimed National Hunt horse since Arkle with an unprecedented fifth victory in the King George. Seemingly on a downward spiral when trounced by Long Run the year before, and at his nadir when pulled up at Punchestown in May, Kauto Star exacted a revenge as stylish as it was popular - jumping perhaps as well as he ever did.
Hurricane Fly - Champion Hurdle (2013)
One of the most memorable of Hurricane Fly's 22 Grade One wins was when he became the first horse for 38 years to regain the Champion Hurdle. Walsh knew the horse inside out and nursed him home from Rock On Ruby as Willie Mullins' star overcame the quick ground and a track that never really suited him.
Quevega - Mares' Hurdle (2013)
Winning the same race at the Festival six years in a row is a remarkable feat -and while all were memorable, the fifth of Quevega's successes is the one that stands out - because she had a lot to do after being hampered at the top of the hill. It looked like the golden run might come to an end - but Walsh knew what he had under him, and Quevega surged into top gear to turn defeat into another victory.
Faugheen - Champion Hurdle (2015)
Faugheen was the star of the show on a day that featured an amazing Mullins four-timer. It was always going to take something special for Walsh to give up the ride on Hurricane Fly - but after leading from pillar to post in the championship event, it was clear just why he did.
Annie Power - Champion Hurdle (2016)
A costly faller in the Mares' Hurdle in 2015 when looking certain to win, Annie Power deserved her day in the sun after owner Rich Ricci stumped up £20,000 to supplement her. Walsh was determined to make it a strong test - and after The New One led to the first hurdle, where he jumped right, Annie Power took over and was never headed. Her victory saw her become just the fourth mare to win the two-mile championship, emulating Dawn Run in 1984.
Douvan - Ryanair Novice Chase (2016)
A clash with Sprinter Sacre or a path that would lead to the Gold Cup featured on the fascinating list of options for Douvan after he rounded off a spectacular season with another faultless display, this time at Punchestown after victories at Cheltenham and Aintree. More on his toes before the off than in the past, perhaps feeling the effects of a long campaign, it was business as usual once the tapes went up for Douvan - and he was arguably never better as he trounced The Game Changer by 11 lengths.