Ruby Walsh wins Australian Grand National

Ruby Walsh wins Australian National

Walsh has won the Irish champion jockey title 10 times
Ruby Walsh has guided top weight Bashboy to a third consecutive Australian Grand National win at Ballarat in Victoria.
Walsh has previously won the English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish Nationals.
The 36-year-old Irishman was brought in for the ride after regular jockey Steve Pateman was suspended.
Bashboy, a 12-year-old trained by Australian Ciaron Maher, was near the lead all the way and fought off the challenge of Thubiaan in the straight.
Walsh has twice won the English Grand National at Aintree - on Papillon in 2000 and Hedgehunter five years later as well as the feature Nakayama Grand Jump in Japan.
"It's brilliant to be here. As a jump jockey you don't get many opportunities to ply your trade abroad," he said.
"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.
"The horse on my inside nearly fell at the second last and I nearly fell off but when I got him back on an even keel, he started rallying going to the last and I knew I had a good show.
"I'm over the moon that I was asked to come, even happier that he won."
Maher was thrilled to see Bashboy secure his place in the record books, particularly in the hands of Walsh.
"Full credit to Ruby - he's just a true superstar. It's great for Australian jumps racing to get a rider of that calibre out here and for him to actually win the race - it'll be international news.
"The horse is just an outstanding horse. I'll probably never train another one like him - his toughness and his durability. I'm rapt it's all come off."

Fantastic and a great jockey was always my 2nd fav after AP

Ruby probably the most talented jump jockey in my life time

Yes bob if I owned a jumper Ruby certainly gave the impression that he would be kinder than AP to the horse and would have been my first choice to ride

Dave Scott wrote: Yes bob if I owned a jumper Ruby certainly gave the impression that he would be kinder than AP to the horse and would have been my first choice to ride

AP would have loved to have ridden some of the machines Ruby has over the years

Report and some action, watch the head on about 3 minutes, the jockey on the 2nd should be warned off for whip abuse..

I enjoyed that