Leading Irish jockey Ruby Walsh landed an amazing 1,889-1 treble on his first visit to Ayr racecourse. His wins came on Hugh Morrison's Marble Arch (14-1), the Ian Williams-trained Korakor (20-1) and Brother Joe (5-1) for Philip Hobbs.
Walsh, 21, who appears to have the current season's title in Ireland sewn up, was warming up for his ride on Flaked Oats for Paul Nicholls in today's Gala Group Scottish Grand National. And as he returned to the weighing-room after winning on Brother Joe, Walsh said: “It is good to ride three winners on my first trip over here - it is a great place now and it is always a great day if three, I haven't had many trebles back home.”
“They were my first rides for Mr Morrison and Mr Williams, they rang up for me but I have a really good agent back home, Jennifer Walsh (his sister) she does a great job for me.”
Walsh was confident that Korakor had the measure of the favourite I'm A Bargain when the latter fell at the last in the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase, and Williams reasoned: “The horse did it very nicely, he loved the ground and jumped well. The jockey rode him more confidently than I felt, I was not confident that he would win.”
Morrison was delighted to secure the services of Walsh too. “Norman (Williamson) would have ridden the horse but he was claimed by Venetia Williams for Welcome. I saw that Ruby was available so we were was also lucky to get him - it is his first ride for us and this is only my second runner on the course.” (PA)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
