If You'd Put A Tenner On Every Ruby Walsh Horse, How Would You Have Fared?

The once-a-year punter doesn't know much about horse racing but he knows who Ruby Walsh is.

And, as such, as was pointed out by our own John Dodge many years ago, he becomes the novice gambler's personal king for the week.

All they need to see, while cluelessly perusing the race-card, is the name 'R Walsh' scrawled beside a horse, and they are immediately persuaded to place all their faith and their money behind the nag.

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If the name WP Mullins is scrawled underneath Ruby's, then so much the better.

Quite frankly, we've heard worse strategies.

Ruby's hot streak may have ended today, but he still delivered enough in the first three days to suggest that the Ruby-fanatics may have enjoyed a lucrative week.

The great man emerged as the festival's leading jockey once more.

How would the back Ruby regardless strategy have panned out? If one had put a tenner on Ruby in every race he was contested, what would one be coming back with?

We decided to investigate.

Tuesday

1.30  -  Supreme Novices Hurdle

Horse -  Min

Price - 15/8f

Position - 2nd

Subtotal € - -10.00

State of mind: A nasty jolt for the Ruby-fanatics as Min is defeated by Altior in the opening race. They hadn't banked on this but they weren't about to ditch their man so early.

2.10  - Arkle Trophy

Horse - Douvan

Price - 1/4f

Position - 1st

Subtotal € - -7.50

State of mind: Recoup some of the losses on Min after the victory for Douvan. Hopefully more to come.

3.30 - Champion Hurdle

Horse - Annie Power

Price 5/2f

Position 1st

Subtotal € - 17.50

State of mind: Annie Power's redemption after last year leaves the Ruby backers well content and sitting on a profit of €17.50.

4.10 - Mares Hurdle

Horse - Vroom Vroom Mag

Price 4/6f

Position - 1st

Subtotal € - 24. 17

State of mind: At the close of Day 1, the Ruby loyalists are €24. 17 to the good. They're feeling confident about the coming days.

Wednesday

1.30 - Neptune Novices Hurdle

Horse - Yorkhill

Price  3/1

Position - 1st

Subtotal € - 54.17 (Ruby adoration does into overdrive here as his latest win leaves this man at €54.17 for the week)

2.10 RSA Chase

Horse - Roi de Francs

Price 10/1

Position 6th

Subtotal € - 44.17

State of mind: Having forgotten what's it like to lose, Ruby lovers crash to earth after the 10/1 shot Roi des Francs fails to come. Still, they're inclined to be philosophical at this stage.

2.50  Coral Cup

Horse - Blood Cotis

Price - 14/1

Position - pulled up

Subtotal € - 34.17

State of mind: Blood Cotis failed to get around meaning another tenner lost. The Ruby guys try to convince themselves it's only a temporary blip.

3.30  Queen Mother Champion Chase 

Horse - Un de Sceaux

Price 4/6f

Position - 2nd

Subtotal € - 24.17

State of mind:  The Ruby backers are beginning to question not only their strategy but their whole existence as Sprinter Sacre zooms past their boyo in a spectacular finish.

Not only this but they can't understand these other punters - their more learned friends - many of whom had backed Un de Sceaux also, are so pleased to see the other horse win.

This is panic stations now.

4.50 - Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle

Horse - Voix du Reve

Price 14/1

Position - faller

Subtotal € - 14.17

State of mind: Full blown crisis of faith as Voix du Reve fails to clear all the fences.

5.30 - Champions Bumper

Horse - Bacardys

Price 16/1

Position 3rd

Subtotal € - 4.17

State of mind: It was a long shot and Ruby did well to get home in third but still, it caps off a miserable day for the Ruby fanclub.

Truth be told, they're still walking around in a daze since the Champion Chase.

Thursday

1.30  JLT Novices Chase

Horse - Black Hercules

Price 4/1

Position 1st

Subtotal € - 44.17

State of mind: Today is a new day and what a day. Yesterday was clearly just a bad dream. Ruby wins on Black Hercules at 4/1 and suddenly the Ruby fanclub are in the money again.

2.50  Ryanair Chase

Horse - Vautour

Price - Evens

Position - 1st

Subtotal € - 54.17

State of mind: They'd been feeling in confident mood about this one anyway. Ruby riding a Willie Mullins horse to victory in a big race. Beautiful sight. They should never have doubted him.

4.10  Festival Plate 

Horse - Ballycasey

Price - 10/1

Position 5th

Subtotal € - 44.17

State of mind: Bit of a pain in the hole to be honest. They'd gotten used to winning. It looks a bit graceless to carp too much after the early morning riches.

4.50  Mares Novices Hurdle

Horse - Limini

Price - 8/11f

Position 1st

Subtotal € - 51. 44

State of mind: They were confident and Ruby delivered on Limini. They finish St. Patrick's Day above the €50 mark. The only pity is he's finished for the day.

Friday

1.30  Triumph Hurdle

Horse - Footpad

Price 5/1

Position 3rd

Subtotal € - 41.44

State of mind: Worrying start Footpad only comes in third in the Triumph. They haveto watch Barry Geraghty - who didn't enjoy his greatest week this week - come home first.

2.10 County Handicap Hurdle

Horse - Dicosimo

Price 16/1

Position - faller

Subtotal € - 31. 44

State of mind: Bit of a shock seeing Ruby hit the deck. Briefly considered that they might have to try another tack come the Gold Cup.

2.50  Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

Horse - Long Dog

Position - faller

Subtotal € - 21.44

State of mind: What the hell is going on? Ruby's determined to leave them with nothin'. With all the chatter about Don Cossack and Bryan Cooper, they flirt with ditching the Rube.

They quickly come to their senses and rebuke themselves for having such blasphemous thoughts.

3.30  Gold Cup

Horse - Djakadam

Price - 9/2

Subtotal € - 11.44

State of mind:  The wisdom of crowds. Maybe they should have listened to the devil on their shoulder. Ah well, Ruby did them proud. Djakadam came in second.

Turns out Ruby is riding no more races so their gambling is done.

Their profits have been whittled down by Ruby's unfortunate duck on the final day, but still, they've more than they started with.

They'll enjoy their Chicken Tikka Masala from the local Indian on Ruby tonight.

Read more: Cheltenham Day 4 Live Blog: It's Gold Cup Day And Confidence Is Dangerously High