Indevan and Ruby Walsh on the way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Ruby Walsh returned to the fray in style as Indevan (5/6 favourite) landed the Grade 3 Like A Butterfly Novice Chase by six lengths at Tipperary.
Since we've seen him in action last Walsh has worked hard rehabilitating his reconstructed shoulder. Plenty of ligament damage reportedly had to be tidied up and the fall Walsh suffered off Abbyssial in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham "was the straw that broke the camel's back."
He went back riding for eight weeks and thankfully didn't suffer a fall at Punchestown or in France. The Kildare man hadn't ridden in a race since June 8th when Diakali finished fourth in the French Champion Hurdle.
A course and distance winner Indevan, owned by Mrs Susannah Ricci and trained by Willie Mullins, tracked the leader but he made a mistake at the fifth.
Soon back on an even keel, he led entering the straight and asserted after two out. A slight mistake at the last did little to impede his progress and he eventually had six lengths in hand over Silver Tassie
Mullins also saddled the third home, Rough Justice
Unfortunately we lost both Blacklough and Mrs Mac Veale as early as the third and Hurricane Ridge was never really a factor after a mistake at the sixth.
"It's great and I didn't decide until Friday that I was coming back today and Willie was good enough to let me ride this fella," revealed Walsh.
"He travelled well and he jumped super. He showed a good old turn of foot but when The Crafty Butcher came out (change in going) with the exception of Blacklough he was the best hurdle horse and he's won like that.
"As for the future like I'm forever saying to Noel O'Brien and Phil Smith (Irish and British handicappers) that they can get run away with summer novices and horses building up sequences.
"Alright Rebel Fitz is a different story but the majority of them are a good bit below the winter horses so I hope they take that into consideration with their ratings and he might turn into a handicapper.
"That's basically what he is. He's not an Arkle horse – he's not a Grade 1 novice chaser – he's a handicapper."
On exciting times ahead Walsh commented: "As Rich (Ricci) has said at this time of year all your geese are swans. We'll just have to sort them out and see where some of them are going.
"They're all back in anyway and they look great and we're welcoming the rain.
"I probably won't get a full book here on Tuesday but hopefully I'll be here anyway.
"It's going to take more rain than people think. Gowran (raced on Friday and Saturday) was obviously well watered but that's still summer ground for jumping horses.
"It's quick underneath. Just looking at the weather forecast we were fifty mills shy of rain in September so whatever fell this week was only what was supposed to fall – you're still forty five or fifty mills short of moisture in the ground. That's going to be needed before you see the big guns.
"The shoulder is A1. It's silly to say but I'd say it's nearly better than the one I didn't have the operation on.
"In fairness to Doctor Adrian McGoldrick he let me go to Santry and use those facilities and Enda King and the physios there have been brilliant and it's been an eye-opener to me. It was serious rehab but it definitely worked." (TW & EM)
