Legendary jockey Ruby Walsh has retired from horse racing after riding Kemboy to victory in tonight's Punchestown Gold Cup.
In a glittering career, he rode over 2500 winners in momentous victories including Kauto Star in the 2007 and 2009 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Walsh was crowned the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival an incredible 11 years, including four successive years from 2014 to 2017.
Kemboy led home a one-two for trainer Willie Mullins in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup, the feature event on day two of the Punchestown Festival.
Ruby Walsh opted to partner Kemboy of Mullins’ three runners and his decision was justified as the seven-year-old proved too good for his Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate in the Grade One feature.
Kemboy came unstuck at the first fence at Cheltenham as Al Boum Photo claimed the blue riband, but he gained compensation under a positive ride from Walsh.
Walsh was crowned the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival after an incredible 11 years, including four successive years from 2014 to 2017.
And the setting was perfect as May Day sunshine beamed down on Punchestown as thousands flocked to the tracks for another day of racing.
Ruby Walsh announces retirement after riding Kemboy to sensational win in Punchestown Gold Cup
Ruby said: “I think I knew going out that if he won I wouldn’t ride again.
“I probably thought the same with Rathvinden at Aintree. Nothing goes on forever and it has always been about big races - it doesn’t get any bigger here than that.
“When a decision is made in your head, it’s easy enough to say it and I made it a good while ago. When I broke my leg at Cheltenham last year, I felt I couldn’t do that again.
“Time moves on, I’ve done it for 24 years and to be honest I want to do something else over the next 24 - I’m just not sure what.”
Day two of the five day meet got underway as Rachael Blackmore dominated the big race of the day, coming out on top of the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle with Minella Indo.
And the competition heated up off the track as well, as the ladies donned their best summer style for the daily Bollinger Best Dressed Competition.
Environmental Officer, Kate Nally McCormack, 36 from Co. Longford was crowned the winner yesterday for her bright coral coloured lace dress, paired with some high street bling.
The mother of three, who will automatically advance to Friday’s final admitted that it felt like DeJa Vu taking the crown again this year, after winning the very same prestigious prize on the same outing last year.
She told The Irish Mirror: “I’m thrilled, I’m delighted to bring it back to Longford.
“I won this day last year and I came on Friday and I obviously didn’t win but I am thrilled again to be in the same situation.”
The winning lady, who stunned in a Self Portrait dress and a smokey grey headpiece by Suzanne Ryan Millinery also revealed she didn’t pick up her winning accessories until hours before she hit the stage at Punchestown.
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She told: “My shoes, bag and earrings were bought this morning from Zara so it was very last minute.
“Look it, I saw this dress and I thought it was perfect for the races because it’s sunny but it is still cool so it is lovely to have something with a bit of a long sleeve, it is a bit more elegant I think.
“So I always see a dress and then I know what headpiece I am going to go with and I had this headpiece already.”
And she added that she will be cutting it just as fine with her outfit on Friday.
She said: “I don’t know. Look it will be as much a surprise to me as it is to you so I will just have to give it my best shot and I’m sure we will come up with something lovely so I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully we will bring it back to Longford.”
Love Island Star Chris Hughes was also on hand at the track yesterday to present the Coral Gold Cup.
And speaking ahead of the race, the Coral Champions club ambassador said he loves any excuse to get back to Ireland.
He told: “We have the three horses in the training and a very good one in Annie Mac.
“I’ve been to Dublin three times in the past few months so i’m a regular now.”
“I’m on a flying visit I just landed this morning and i’ll be flying back later this evening and back to work so it is only a quick one.”
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