ALL RUBY Walsh has to do next March to become the most successful jockey in the history of the Cheltenham Festival rides is ride two more winners. And since he rode a record-breaking seven in 2009, then Pat Taaffe’s current record tally of 25 looks fated to be eclipsed.

Already celebrated as a uniquely successful rider, Walsh took his career to another level again with his seven Cheltenham victories that included a second Gold Cup on Kauto Star, a second Champion Chase on Master Minded, a World Hurdle on Big Bucks and a trio of Willie Mullins-trained winners headed by Mikael D’Haguenet.

One of those rare sports figures immediately identifiable by his first name, Walsh was only denied a clean sweep of the championship events when Celestial Halo went down by just a neck to the Barry Geraghty ridden Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle.

At home Walsh was crowned champion jockey for the seventh time with a total of 122 winners in Ireland, 40 clear of his nearest rival, Davy Russell. Willie Mullins was champion trainer for the fourth time with a prize money tally of over €2.8 million. Mullins ended the season with a flourish in May as the Punchestown Festival yielded a remarkable 12 victories. His partner, Walsh, had to make do with 10!