It was a good way to go out yesterday for Ruby Walsh, he gave Kemboy a good ride to win at Punchestown, and then announced he was retiring.  Lots of racing rumours were that he was going to retire if he won the Aintree Grand National,  he had a good ride at Liverpool but his horse was not good enough.   Ruby has been a very good jockey, but age and injuries catch up with you, it’s one of the unfortunate hazards of being a jump jockey, riders go on longer when they are riding good horses, and Ruby has been riding the best for a lot of years.

It was mentioned yesterday that he was the best their has been for many years, I think Tony McCoy would have something  to say about that!

Both were very different types of rider, Ruby was always quiet and still on his horses, especially over an obstacle, Tony McCoy was the opposite, so both styles work !

The best jockey I had the privilege of riding against was John Francome, he was similar to Ruby, but in my opinion he was a few pounds better. Some really top riders around in the 80s and 90s, Richard Dunwoody, Hywel  Davies, Graham McCourt,Graham Bradley, Norman Williamson and my great friend Declan Murphy, I must not forget Peter Scudamore either.  I could name another half dozen top class riders at the time.  I would struggle to mention as many at the moment, we have a few decent National Hunt jockeys currently riding , but I don’t think current Champion Richard Johnson was as good as any of the ones I have mentioned.

Any way on to today’s racing.  Good cards on the flat and jumping.  At Mussleburgh it looks pretty tough, the first race has only three lining up, you could make a case for all of them.  Alright Sunshine has useful bumper form, he has to give a fair amount of weight away, through weight for age, it is an interesting race. The final race at 5.15  has Cosmic Ray trying to follow up for his recent win, I think he is the best horse in the race, stall 9 of 9 looks his biggest danger !

I may update later with something.