Champion Walsh off the mark for 2017

Ruby Walsh began his 23rd year as a jockey with a win on New Year’s Day today, winning the Fairyhouse Members 2017 Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse on the Tony Mullins trained Shannak

Walsh began his career on May 17 1995, when unplaced on Wild Irish at Leopardstown, and is currently on course for a 12th Jockeys’ Championship as he today steered his 97th winner of the campaign, coming from off the pace to win on Shannak.

Winning trainer Mullins later commented “he loves it around here in January, and Ruby was at his usual boring brilliance!

"Going to the last he rolled around a bit and I thought he was in trouble but he got back on an even keel and stayed on well. Even though he's a small horse, I was thinking of a beginners chase but not on bottomless ground.

"There is a meeting here later in the month and there may be another handicap hurdle for him."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee