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Back in the Saddle

'It's been a long enough aul' road': Ruby Walsh opens Galway Races with a win on return from injury

Forced to pull out of Cheltenham prematurely, Walsh was well and truly back on song in Ballybrit.

RUBY WALSH TODAY made a triumphant return from the broken leg which prematurely ended his Cheltenham involvement this year.

Walsh won the opening race of the Galway Festival in Ballybrit, riding 6/5 Willie Mullins favourite Easy Game to victory in the Galmont & Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle ahead of Gordon Elliott’s Count Simon (5/1) and Cool Colonnade (11/2, also trained by Mullins).

Speaking to RTE while still in the saddle, Walsh thanked his family and friends for having patience with him during a stint of ‘one week’s work in nine months’.

“Gemma (his daughter) is four and she says to me on the way over in the car: ‘Daddy, can you please try not to break your leg,’” Walsh offered for levity.

“Look, it’s great, it’s been a long enough aul’ road. I’ve great people around me, always had. This year, whatever way you look at it, it’s been one week’s work in nine months. I’ve been a fair test to everyone around me…”

On Easy Game and a return to the winning habit, he said: “When you haven’t ridden a long time you don’t yourself, whether you’re going too quick. He jumped super, he travelled well. Great to be back, pressure off.”

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