Ruby Walsh has made the most of his three-day trip to Australia, riding Bashboy to a record third Australian Grand National at Ballarat in Victoria on Sunday.
The Irishman was asked to take the ride on Bashboy after his regular jockey Steven Pateman was suspended, and victory in Australia means Walsh has now won five countries’ grand nationals, having previously taken the English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish Nationals.
Bashboy was near the front all the way and fought off a challenge from Thubiaan in the straight to triumph, in doing so becoming the first horse since 1957 to win carrying the sizeable weight of 74.5kg (11st 9lbs).
His trainer, Ciaron Maher, decided that in Pateman’s absence he would try to secure the world’s leading jump jockey and Walsh obliged. “It’s brilliant to be here,” said Walsh. “As a jump jockey, you don’t get many opportunities to ply your trade abroad. I thought I still had a little bit left as we entered the straight. I knew I was giving lots of weight away, but I was jumping so good I couldn’t wait to get to the two fences.
“I’m over the moon that I was asked to come, even happier that he won.”
