Ruby Walsh: I’m like a bad smell and I plan to stick around

Twelve-time champion jockey Ruby Walsh has quashed suggestions he might retire.

The record-breaking rider addressed rumours that he is considering giving up on his career in the saddle and putting himself out to pasture as his 40th Birthday approaches.

For many weeks, social media has been alive with fans proposing the legendary horseman would stand down after his next big winner. The Aintree Grand National came and went, where he finished third on Rathvinden. Then many were silenced when he landed the Irish Grand National aboard Burrows Saint last Monday and no ‘announcement’ followed.

Ruby states that, as always, he lives by his own rules and not the suggestions of others, having see-sawed through a series of dramatic lows due to injury, to stratospheric highs, including capturing the one major race that had escaped his employer Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

When it was put to him that fans believed if he won either the Aintree or Irish Grand National he would make an announcement, Ruby said:

Well I didn’t, did I?  I’m like a bad smell. I’m going nowhere.

With the Punchestown Festival kicking off next week, and an impressive stack of rides to look forward to before the National Hunt season comes to a close in Ireland.

Walsh, who has recorded 212 Grade 1 winners in the saddle, will be hoping the likes of Klassical Dream, Min, Allaho and Benie Des Dieux will add to his impressive haul of big race winners at next week’s National Hunt Festival.