As the week began Ruby Walsh was experiencing a lean spell in the saddle by his own high standards. Winners had become scarce and were punctuated by an uncharacteristically high number of falls. Seven days on and nine winners later he is back riding the crest of a wave.
A double at Punchestown on Tuesday was followed by a career-first four-timer at the same venue on Wednesday. His next port of call was Ascot on Saturday and the trip yielded another success. Home on Sunday and riding at Leopardstown Walsh bagged another brace including the prestigious Pierse Hurdle aboard Adamant Approach.
The Champion Jockey missed the early part of the season through injury and has taken time to reach top gear, but is now back with a bang. He lies 28 wins adrift of Paul Carberry (set to return from a thumb injury this week) in this season's championship and while the lead is substantial nothing seems beyond Walsh in his pursuit of glory.
Bookmakers took a pasting over the two-day mid-week meeting at Punchestown. On Tuesday five favourites and a second favourite obliged while on Wednesday six of the seven races were won by fancied horses. Again it was Ruby Walsh who did most of the damage, particularly when partnering his father's Native Leisure (6/1 to 3/1) to victory on the second day.
Jockey Paul Moloney replaced regular rider Conor O'Dwyer aboard Youlneverwalkalone at Navan on Saturday and seized the opportunity with both hands. He gave the former smart hurdler a confident ride and the gelding was foot-perfect at his fences to beat an inferior field and record his first win over the larger obstacles. Youlneverwalkalone has often flattered to deceive, but perhaps in the hands of his new pilot may finally deliver what he has threatened in the past.
End of year figures released during the week reveal that the economic slow-down has begun to filter through to racing and while the trend is worrying one man who won't take it lying down is Tote supremo John White.
AtLeopardstown on Sunday White was bullish about the year ahead for his organisation and said: 'legislation is about to come on stream that will facilitate Tote patrons to bet into the British Tote pools. From Cheltenham in March credit customers will be able to use their existing accounts to do win, place, forecast and placepot bets directly into the British pools. We also intend to have Tote Account staff at Cheltenham to accommodate patrons on track.'
'In a reciprocal agreement with the British Tote their staff will be at the Punchestown festival to offer a similar service to their customers' continued White who also outlined plans for the Tote move into the high street later in the year (beginning with a trial in 16 betting offices in the Cork area) and the introduction of a new 'Super Bet.'
The new bet is a four-horse exacta (the first four home in correct order) and will only be on selected races. For those who find the present two-horse version hard to crack this will seemdaunting, but it may generate a lot of interest when it has been rolled over several times, which looks inevitable.
As prizemoney continues to spiral, a couple of interesting statistics are worth noting. Last season on the flat Jim Bolger failed to train a Group winner, but his runners amassed over #800,000 (over ?1million). This must be some sort of record.
Another fact, prior to last weekend eight of the nine highest earning horses of the National Hunt season in these islands were Irish trained. How much longer can the English trainers afford to ignore the pots of gold on offer here? Not one English runner at Leopardstown on Sunday with over ?350,000 up for grabs.
This season's brightest Juvenile Hurdle prospect has changed hands. Turtleback, an impressive winner over Christmas at Leopardstown has been bought by Dermot Desmond and will move from Paddy Mullins' yard to that of Edward O'Grady. The 4-y-o will be aimed at Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle, a race that Desmond won with Commanche Court in 1997.
