Ruby Walsh has announced his retirement from National Hunt racing after almost 25 years in the saddle.
Recognised widely as the best jumps jockey to ever grace the game, Walsh announced his retired after riding Kemboy to victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup, the feature race of day two at the National Hunt festival.
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Walsh, who turns 40 next month, has won pretty much every significant race in the sport over a long career. He now follows Noel Fehily, another multiple Grade One-winning jockey, who retired at this year's Cheltenham Festival.
.@Ruby_Walsh has just announced his retirement from race riding after winning the @Coral Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup on Kemboy. #ThankYouRuby pic.twitter.com/zfE7apvT6A
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) May 1, 2019
Among Walsh's greatest achievements in the saddle are: two Gold Cups, four Champion Hurdles and three Champion Chases at the Cheltenham Festival. He also won two Grand Nationals during his time racing. Furthermore, he holds the record for most wins accumulated at the Cheltenham Festival having amassed an astonishing 59 wins over the years.
Throughout his career, the Irishman has ridden some of the greatest horses to ever to take to fences and hurdles including Kauto Star, Hurrican Fly, Denman and Big Bucks.
