File Photo: Horse Racing - Grand National Festival - Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, Britain - April 5, 2019 Ruby Walsh celebrates winning the 3.25 JLT Chase on Min Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo
(Reuters) - Irish jump jockey Ruby Walsh, one of the sport's all-time greats, has announced he will retire from competition, the Racing Post reported on Wednesday.
Walsh, 39, announced his decision after his win on Kemboy in the Punchestown Gold Cup.
Walsh is the Cheltenham festival's most successful rider, winning 59 festival races and being crowned top jockey at the leading meeting 11 times.
File Photo: Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 12, 2019 Ruby Walsh on Klassical Dream celebrates after winning the 1:30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' race REUTERS/Eddie Keogh/File Photo
His Cheltenham triumphs include three Queen Mother Champion Chase wins, with two on Master Minded and the other on Azertyuiop.
Walsh won two Cheltenham Gold Cups on Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009, and shares the record for most wins in the Champion Hurdle with four victories and the Stayers' Hurdle with five wins.
The County Kildare born Walsh first emerged on the scene winning the Irish amateur title twice as a teenager before turning professional.
File Photo: Horse Racing - Cheltenham Festival - Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Britain - March 13, 2018 Ruby Walsh celebrates as he holds Benie Des Dieux after winning the 16:10 OLBG Mares' Hurdle Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File PhotoFile Photo: Ruby Walsh riding Kauto Star celebrates in the winners enclosure after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival horse racing meeting in Gloucestershire, western England March 13, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh/File Photo
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Toby Davis)
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