Walsh at the treble

Ruby Walsh took Aintree by storm with a sparkling 681-1 treble in the first three races on Martell Cognac Grand National day with one trainer hailing the jockey as the “best thing to come out of Ireland since Guinness”.

Walsh was out of luck with Shotgun Willy in the Grand National but his day had started well, winning on Risky Reef and Le Roi Miguel, displaying his customary polish on each occasion in the opening heats, but he needed all his strength to force Sacundai’s head in front in the shadow of the post in the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle to complete his hat-trick.