‘I can be cold but I’m not arrogant’

He’s succeeded in serving two masters and has become a racing hero legend in the process. But straight-talking Ruby Walsh is the first to admit that he doesn’t play the fame game too well.

THERE had to be a way of managing my responsibilities to Willie Mullins at home and Pauil Nicholls in England. Jennifer got out the racing calendar and went through it to see what days there was racing in both Ireland and England. Maybe if we sent Paul a list of the days I might be available and included the Saturdays on it, then maybe we could find a compromise. Saturdays were crucial. Racing here was often fairly ordinary on Saturdays but it was the big day of the week over there.

From the beginning, I knew that it was going to take a fair bit of work. But I didn’t mind that at all. Getting up early has never bothered me so the difference between getting up at six o’clock to make a flight from Dublin or getting up after seven to go down to Willie’s to ride out wasn’t going to be a big problem to me.