Walsh back in business
Ruby Walsh reaffirmed his opposition to the new whip rules today after making a winning return to British race-riding at Wetherby.
The leading Irish jockey was furious after picking up a five-day suspension at Aintree last Saturday, promising to make his trips to Britain less frequent for ordinary races.
He missed the meeting at Chepstow on Tuesday, but headed to West Yorkshire for the ride on Fistral Beach in the Listed bet365 Handicap Chase, where he was rewarded with a comfortable victory.
The well-supported 5-2 favourite travelled strongly throughout the two-and-a-half-mile feature, and was left in a clear lead when market rival Persian Gates crashed out two fences from home.
Walsh only had to push his Paul Nicholls-trained mount, owned by Graham Roach, out to the line to score by eight lengths from Araldur.
Walsh, whose rides at the track tomorrow include Poquelin in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, said: "The owner (Roach) has a yard full of horses and Paul thought it was worth me coming over.
"It was a good prize, I thought it was worth coming over for and Paul did too.
"These are good races. I never said I wouldn't be coming for these sort of races.
"Likewise tomorrow, I've got some good rides, Poquelin and What A Friend, and then there is the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Tuesday.
"It is the ordinary races I will have to weigh up and see what the story is.
"It's like a soccer player being on a yellow card and not wanting to miss the European Cup final."
Walsh has appealed against the ban he picked up at Aintree, with the hearing set to take place at British Horseracing Authority headquarters in London on Thursday.
He said: "After Thursday, maybe things might change, I would not appeal if I didn't think I had a case."
He went on: "The BHA say they are reviewing the rules ongoing, but ongoing is ongoing, I think they should speed it up because the jumping season is getting going and there are good races coming up.
"The PJA (Professional Jockeys Association) and the Horsemen's Group are trying, but there is only so much they can do.
"Britain were world leaders with the whip instructions and others were trying to follow.
"It was a model other people were looking at, but now they have got something nobody wants.
"We all make mistakes, I do every day, everybody does.
"But if you're not prepared to make mistakes, you'll never make a decision."
Of Fistral Beach, Walsh said: "The horse jumped well and travelled well.
"Maybe we were a little bit lucky because the horse that fell at the second-last was going well, but you've got to jump them.
"He's the sort of horse that if you had to go for the whip, you know you're beat."
Alan King and Robert Thornton recorded a double on the card, with 9-2 chance Secret Edge claiming Listed honours in the Weatherbys Bank Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle.
Favourite Countrywide Flame appeared to be getting the better of the argument after the final flight, but Secret Edge came back to score by half a length.
King's assistant, Noel Williams, said: "I was delighted with that. We were glad the rain came, he does appreciate a bit of cut and may be better on softer ground - it was a little bit quick for him when he ran at Chepstow.
"Unfortunately, we don't often get soft ground at the Festival (Cheltenham), so I don't know what Alan will do, but there are races like the Finesse Hurdle at Lingfield which would be possible for him."
Thornton was at his brilliant best when guiding Raya Star to a decisive victory in the bet365.com Handicap Hurdle.
The 100-30 favourite was switched off out the back of the field for much of the extended two-mile journey but made stealthy headway at the top of the home straight and was produced perfectly to score by three and a half lengths from Golden Future.
"Choc (Thornton) said the horse was very keen, but I think it was freshness more than anything else," Williams added.
"He did run over two and a half miles at Aintree last season, but because he has been a bit keen, we thought we would start him over two miles this time.
"In fact, Choc said he looked like a two-miler."
Sue Smith's Crafti Bookie (4-1) showed a willing attitude under Henry Oliver to open his account in the Wetherby Racecourse & Conference Centre "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle.
Smith said: "He did not show much last season, he did finish third in heavy ground here, but he was beaten some way.
"What I did really like about him today was how well he kept going and he will stay three miles."
Charlie Longsdon continued his excellent run of form as 11-8 shot Wide Receiver rewarded favourite backers in the Book On-Line At wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Chase.
The closing Wetherby Racecourse For Wedding Receptions Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle went to 12-1 shot Dot Or Feather.
