A dozen magic moments in Ruby Walsh's record-breaking career

Ruby Walsh rode many brilliant horses and enjoyed countless big-race victories – including an unparalleled 59 triumphs at the Cheltenham Festival – in his record-breaking career. Here, we look at 12 special moments from one of the greatest jockeys of all time:

In 1999, Tommy and Paul Carberry teamed up to win the Aintree spectacular for Ireland – and 12 months later it was the turn of Ted Walsh and his 20-year-old son, Ruby, who was having his first ride in the race. The horse was the subject of a huge public gamble, and in beating Mely Moss by a length and a quarter he set his rider on the road to superstardom.

Hedgehunter had really taken to the big fences the year before, but ran too free for David Casey and was ultimately a tired faller at the last. Twelve months on he was sent off the 7-1 favourite in the hands of Walsh, who was able to avoid significant trouble at Becher’s on the second circuit that saw Clan Royal carried out. Left in front from there, it was only at the elbow that a hitherto motionless Walsh asked his partner a question, with the response everything his backers could have hoped for.

Walsh enjoyed an armchair ride on Master Minded as Paul Nicholls’ brilliant two-miler produced one of the best performances ever seen at Cheltenham in destroying the previous year’s winner Voy Por Ustedes by 19 lengths. The result was never in doubt as he pulled clear from halfway. It was a similar story 12 months later.

Walsh and Kauto Star shared so many big days, but their performance to regain the Gold Cup was extraordinary. After winning in 2007, Kauto Star had been beaten by Denman 12 months later. However, he turned the tables on his stablemate in some style as Walsh rode him with supreme confidence to come home 13 lengths clear for a Nicholls-trained one-two.

Walsh described Denman’s 2009 Hennessy success as the “best weight-carrying performance” of a horse he had ever been involved with. It is hard to disagree, with ‘The Tank’ dishing out a three-and-a-half-length beating to stablemate and subsequent dual Grade One winner What A Friend – to whom he was conceding 22lb.

The third of four wins for Big Buck’s in the stayers’ championship was not straightforward, because Walsh dropped his whip as they took the lead before the final flight. The horse then hung left to add to his rider’s troubles, but it did not stop the pair going on to gamely defeat young pretender Grands Crus.

Kauto Star sent Kempton racegoers into a state of mass hysteria and consolidated his position as the most acclaimed National Hunt horse since Arkle with an unprecedented fifth victory in the King George. Seemingly on a downward spiral when trounced by Long Run the year before, and at his nadir when pulled up at Punchestown in May, Kauto Star exacted a revenge as stylish as it was popular – jumping perhaps as well as he ever did.

One of the most memorable of Hurricane Fly’s 22 Grade One wins was when he became the first horse for 38 years to regain the Champion Hurdle. Walsh knew the horse inside out and nursed him home from Rock On Ruby as Willie Mullins’ star overcame the quick ground and a track that never really suited him.

Winning the same race at the Festival six years in a row is a remarkable feat -and while all were memorable, the fifth of Quevega’s successes is the one that stands out – because she had a lot to do after being hampered at the top of the hill. It looked like the golden run might come to an end – but Walsh knew what he had under him, and Quevega surged into top gear to turn defeat into another victory.

Faugheen was the star of the show on a day that featured an amazing Mullins four-timer. It was always going to take something special for Walsh to give up the ride on Hurricane Fly – but after leading from pillar to post in the championship event, it was clear just why he did.

A costly faller in the Mares’ Hurdle in 2015 when looking certain to win, Annie Power deserved her day in the sun after owner Rich Ricci stumped up £20,000 to supplement her. Walsh was determined to make it a strong test – and after The New One led to the first hurdle, where he jumped right, Annie Power took over and was never headed. Her victory saw her become just the fourth mare to win the two-mile championship, emulating Dawn Run in 1984.

A clash with Sprinter Sacre or a path that would lead to the Gold Cup featured on the fascinating list of options for Douvan after he rounded off a spectacular season with another faultless display, this time at Punchestown after victories at Cheltenham and Aintree. More on his toes before the off than in the past, perhaps feeling the effects of a long campaign, it was business as usual once the tapes went up for Douvan – and he was arguably never better as he trounced The Game Changer by 11 lengths.