On top of her game

KATIE Walsh finished third in the Grand National earlier this year and became the highest-placed female rider in the history of the race.

The 27-year-old, who’s a sister of champion national hunt jockey Ruby Walsh and daughter of trainer and TV pundit Ted Walsh, says her Grand National performance on Seabass, trained by her dad, was very exciting. “The Grand National’s a historic race. A lot of people have never even ridden in it and to ride in it for Dad was unbelievable.”

Katie - whose boyfriend, Ross O’Sullivan, also trains horses - hopes to run at the Galway Races Summer Festival next week (Monday, Jul 30, to Sunday, Aug 5). Along with top female jockey Nina Carbery, she will be at Galway’s g Hotel on next Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings (Aug 2-4), where the two women will host a breakfast Q&A session, discuss the day’s racing ahead, as well as chat about the highs and lows of their careers to date.

What shape are you in?

I’m just back from holidays in the US and I’m getting back into shape. I like to swim a couple of times a week and sometimes I go for a walk or a jog. But riding out and working in the yard every morning is enough activity in the day to keep me fit.

Do you have any health concerns?

No, nothing at all.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I love salads. My biggest downfall is that we don’t stop for breakfast until 10am. All I’ll have had before then is a cup of coffee at

6.45am. I’m never very hungry in the mornings. Breakfast would usually be a bowl of porridge, sometimes two slices of brown bread - I’m trying to stay away from white - and a boiled egg.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Chocolate. After dinner in the evening I’d have a cup of tea with a few biscuits or chocolate.

Do you sleep well and what would stress you to keep you awake?

I’m a great sleeper and I love my sleep. I could get into bed at 9.30pm, be asleep within 15 minutes and sleep the whole way through. I don’t stress too much about stuff - I’m very outspoken and let it all out.

How do you relax?

When I come home in the evening, I have a shower, a bit of dinner, then I sit on the couch and watch TV or maybe go for a walk.

When did you last cry?

I can’t remember the last time I cried, but I am a very emotional person. It wouldn’t take much to trigger me off when it comes to films or sad stories.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I would love now to sit down with my dad’s dad. His name was Ruby and he died in 1990. He was a trainer too and I got on great with him. I’d talk with him, to see how he succeeded.

What would you change about your appearance?

I’d love to be taller but that’s not going to happen. Other than that I’m pretty happy with the cards I’ve been dealt.

What’s your favourite smell?

I love the smell of vanilla.

What trait do you least like in others?

I like people who are upfront and who, if they have something to say, will say it. I don’t like people who are the opposite of that.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I wish I had more patience. I’d be very defensive. I get wound up easily.

Do you pray?

I do and I don’t. I wouldn’t kneel down beside the bed every night. But I’d often say ‘please God, let this go according to plan’. That would be the height of my praying.

What would cheer up your day?

Waking up to a lovely day is guaranteed to put a smile on my face.