Has Ruby indicated if he wants to take up training eventually?

Ruby Walsh would consider training Flat horses when he retires from the saddle due to the better prize money.

Last Updated: 27/02/14 8:44am
 
Ruby Walsh: Could turn to training
The star Irish National Hunt jockey believes it would make more economic sense to snub jumps racing when he eventually calls time on a distinguished riding career.

Walsh, 34, is, however, adamant retirement is not yet even a consideration.

"The lifespan of a jockey has definitely increased in the last 10 years," he said at the Irish Examiner sports breakfast in Cork.

"Whereas 34, 35 used to be the norm, it now seems to be 40 so hopefully I've a few more years in me, but if I was to go training horses I would train Flat horses.

"Flat racing is a business, it's where the money is. "Jump racing, unfortunately, is the poor relation. Flat racing is global, worldwide.

"Jump racing is confined between ourselves, England, a small bit in France, a tiny bit in Australia and a little bit in America.

"We were in Japan (for Blackstairmountain's victory in the Nakayama Grand Jump last April), there's big prize-money there, but there's very few races. Flat racing is global."

Champion jockeys never transfer their ability in the saddle when they go into the training ranks.
Ruby might be a very good jockey and a form expert but when it comes to training, it is a totally different ball game.

Fred winter
Josh Gifford
JJO O'neil
Stan Mellor

Too blunt with people, would drive owners away