Al Ferof win gets Ruby back in the old routine
As the pair flashed across the line, Walsh raised his whip in celebration to the thousands watching. The message was simple — I’m back.
On November 6, he suffered a double fracture of his leg in a fall from Corrick Bridge at Down Royal.
His only goal subsequently was to be back in action in time for Cheltenham, nothing else mattered to the Irish champion.
Truth to tell, the grey didn’t look the most likely winner for most of the journey. Indeed, turning for home, he appeared to have it all to do in fourth place.
But this is a meeting which simply inspires Walsh, which brings out all that is good with, arguably, the finest National Hunt jockey of all time.
Any doubts regarding his fitness were dismissed in a flash. He got behind Al Ferof and proceeded to give him the most ferocious of drives.
Gradually they got there, as Walsh powerfully swept him past the Nicky Henderson pair, Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre, to score going away.
He was given a tumultuous reception as he made his way back to the winner’s enclosure, clearly just as popular, if not more so, on this side off the Irish Sea as at home.
Commented Walsh: “Fair play to Paul (Nicholls) because I wanted to ride him in the first three and he said ‘no’. He said to drop in, get settled and he will come home.
“They went a real good gallop and he was right. He really picked up when I wanted him to. He jumped super and it is just great.
“He has come from a long way back and needed a bit of riding, but has won well at the death.
“It is great to be back. In fairness to Paul and Willie (Mullins) they don’t put pressure on me one way or the other, they let me make my own call.
“If I ask for advice then they give it to me, but allow me to make up my own mind. I went for Al Ferof over Zaidpour, you get some right and some wrong.’
Nicholls was ecstatic, especially so because Walsh was in the plate. Said Nicholls: “This has to be one of my best wins of the season because of Ruby, it is a great way for him to start.
“Al Ferof looked amazing today and it was a brilliant ride from Ruby. It takes the pressure off and was the best thing that could have happened, he (Ruby) has gone through a little bit and it is just great for him.’
Owner John Hales added: “I thought we were running for fourth place, then I thought we'd got third and then it all happened, thanks to Ruby.”
“His judgement of pace was unbelievable. He just took them and won it well.”
“Someone said to me we should go for the two-and-a-half-mile novice, but you can’t get better than that.”
Favourite Cue Card was desperately disappointing in fourth. The medium of some massive bets in the ring, he held every chance, but faded dramatically.
Rider, Joe Tizzard, lamented: “He travelled well to the home straight, but didn’t pick up as well as the first three.”
Nicky Henderson said of Spirit Son and Sprinter Sacre: “They’ve run fantastic races and with Spirit Son I’ll be very surprised if he’s not back here in 365 days time for the Arkle. In another year, he’ll have strengthened up a lot.
“Sprinter Sacre would be very unlikely to go to Aintree and we’ll probably put him away.”
