Jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Paul Nicholls have announced the end of one of jump racing’s most successful partnerships. They won 64 Grade 1 races as a team. The first was with Fadalko in the 2001 Melling Chase and must recent in 2013 Aintree Hurdle with Zarakandar. Walsh may continue to ride for Nicholls when available. Daryl Jacob is expected to assume first jockey position at Nicholls yard.
While the official line is that Walsh no longer had the appetite for regular travel to the UK, the balance of power between Nicholls and Walsh’s other employer – Irish Champion trainer Willie Mullins has tipped decisively in favour of the Irishman in recent seasons.
Walsh is by some distance the winning most rider of National Hunt’s big races – the Grade 1s- but it is his partnership with Mullins that has delivered must returns over the last two seasons.
Ruby Walsh Grade 1 winners by trainer 2005/6 to date:
A look at the horses that Walsh has ridden for both trainers to win Grade 1 races highlights the difference in potential between both yards at this time:
Grade 1 Winners for Mullins 2011-13
| 27-Apr-13 | AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle | Diakali |
| 26-Apr-13 | Rabobank Champion Hurdle | Hurricane Fly |
| 25-Apr-13 | Ryanair Novice Chase | Arvika Ligeonniere |
| 25-Apr-13 | Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle | Quevega |
| 13-Apr-13 | Nakayama Grand Jump (Chase) | Blackstairmountain |
| 31-Mar-13 | Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Final | Annie Power |
| 13-Mar-13 | Weatherbys Champion Bumper | Briar Hill |
| 12-Mar-13 | Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy | Hurricane Fly |
| 12-Mar-13 | William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle | Champagne Fever |
| 27-Jan-13 | BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle | Hurricane Fly |
| 29-Dec-12 | Istabraq Festival Hurdle | Hurricane Fly |
| 28-Dec-12 | Topaz Novice Chase | Back In Focus |
| 16-Dec-12 | Navan Novice Hurdle | Pont Alexandre |
| 02-Dec-12 | Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle | Zaidpour |
| 02-Dec-12 | Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase | Arvika Ligeonniere |
| 18-Nov-12 | Punchestown Morgiana Hurdle | Hurricane Fly |
| 10-Jun-12 | Grande Course De Haies D’Auteuil (Hurdle) | Thousand Stars |
| 27-Apr-12 | Rabobank Champion Hurdle | Hurricane Fly |
| 26-Apr-12 | Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle | Quevega |
| 12-Feb-12 | Hennessy Gold Cup (Chase) | Quel Esprit |
| 29-Jan-12 | BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle | Hurricane Fly |
| 18-Dec-11 | Navan Novice Hurdle | Boston Bob |
| 04-Dec-11 | Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle | Sous Les Cieux |
| 20-Nov-11 | Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle | Thousand Stars |
| 18-Jun-11 | Grande Course De Haies D’Auteuil | Thousand Stars |
| 06-May-11 | Rabobank Champion Hurdle | Hurricane Fly |
| 05-May-11 | Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle | Quevega |
Grade 1 Winners for Nicholls 2011-13
| 04-Apr-13 | John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle | Zarkandar |
| 28-Dec-12 | Lexus Chase | Tidal Bay |
| 24-Nov-12 | Betfair Chase | Silviniaco Conti |
| 12-Apr-12 | BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle | Big Buck’s |
| 15-Mar-12 | Ladbrokes World Hurdle | Big Buck’s |
| 26-Dec-11 | William Hill King George VI Chase | Kauto Star |
| 17-Dec-11 | Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle | Big Buck’s |
| 03-Dec-11 | Markel Insurance Henry VIII Novices’ Chase | Al Ferof |
| 19-Nov-11 | Betfair Chase | Kauto Star |
