The five standout moments of Ruby Walsh's 52 Cheltenham winners
Walsh enjoyed an armchair ride on Master Minded as he 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.
Walsh and Kauto Star shared so many big days, but to regain the Gold Cup was an extraordinary one. After winning in 2007, Kauto Star had been beaten by Denman in 2008. 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 Paul Nicholls one-two.
The third of four wins for Big Buck's in the stayers' championship was not straightforward, as Walsh dropped his whip as they took the lead before the final flight. The horse then hung left to add to Walsh's troubles, but it did not stop the pair going on to gamely defeat young pretender Grands Crus.
One of the most memorable of Hurricane Fly's word-record 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.
Winning the same race at the Festival six years in a row was a remarkable feat and while all were memorable, the fifth was the one that stands out as she had a lot to do after being hampered at the top of the hill. Walsh knew what he had under him and Quevega surged into top gear to turn defeat into another victory.
