Last Fence Ruby

[cormack15]

It’s becoming ‘a thing’.

[Ex RubyLight]

Yeah, just about time to consider a retirement. Forget the punters, just think of the horses and the owners’ pockets. Too many horses hurt when falling, too much prize-money lost for the connections….
Great jockey, great career, but time to call it a day.

[Gladiateur]

Sounds like a good name for an on-course curry concession.

[BigG]

Corm, I’ve had 3 bets today, the first being Royal Caviar with Ruby onboard. I had him at 11/2,
he was trading at 1/7 going to the last and to me it looked like Ruby left him completely alone
and perhaps he should have decided for the horse, he was under no pressure. I also had him on Nichols
Canyon, he came down at the last there as well, I haven’t looked at the replay, but perhaps he was
getting tired chasing Petit Mouchoir, and in any case he wasn’t going to win. Thankfully in-between
those 2 races Jack Kennedy came to my rescue with Elusive Ivy at 7s, so at least I’m not out of pocket,
but I wouldn’t mind asking him what he was thinking about on Royal Caviar

[CharlesOlney]

Would you rather your jockey shortened right up into the last and risk doing what Royal Caviar did or they ask for one final big one and end up doing a ‘Might Bight’?

I think Ruby’s opinion is to try and just get the horse over the last and if they put in a short one and lose a bit of ground at least he has a bit of time to get going again rather than ask a tired horse for a long jump and come crashing down.

[stilvi]

Haven’t we had a similar thread before?

It has been talked about and talked about on forums but outside of that there is no story. He would be the last person to acknowledge any sign of frailty and the racing media will not even raise any questions, let alone criticise him.

[BigG]

CharlesOlney wrote:

Would you rather your jockey shortened right up into the last and risk doing what Royal Caviar did or they ask for one final big one and end up doing a ‘Might Bight’?

I think Ruby’s opinion is to try and just get the horse over the last and if they put in a short one and lose a bit of ground at least he has a bit of time to get going again rather than ask a tired horse for a long jump and come crashing down.

Absolutely no problem putting in a short one at the last Charles, especially when you have the
race in the bag, but you have to know the horse is going into it on the right stride. In Royal
Caviar’s race today, Ruby left him well alone, but he arrived at the fence too close and RC
breasted it and tipped up. Having now watched Ruby’s ride on Nichols Canyon again, I don’t think
he did anything wrong, it was as I thought earlier, a tired fall. I’ve thought in the past that far
too much was being made of Ruby’s last fence falls, but I’ve got to admit that I’m more nervous
watching him going to the last, than I would have been before. I still think he’s a top jockey, I’m
not sure what to make of this anomaly.

[thewexfordman]

The fall of Nichols canyon was definitely not his fault. He asked the horse up off a perfect stride and he just didn’t jump high enough because he was tired. Royal caviar he probably should have drove him into the fence and asked for a big one. But Davy Russell did the same as ruby only his horse was concentrating and jumped it well whereas Ruby’s horse seemed to be looking off to the right approaching the fence. For that reason he probably should have drove the horse into it and made up his mind for him.

[BigG]

I think that’s fair comment wexford, if the horse (Royal Caviar) wasn’t set right for the fence then Ruby
should have made his mind up for him.

[stilvi]

I would suggest mystifying, rather than interesting.

[KingSprinterSacre]

Today was the first time Ruby has fallen or unseated when leading at the last since the 26th of Feb last year. Its almost like people want it to happen so they can jump on facebook/twitter/forums and yap about him.

Nichols canyon was tired a fall. He was ridden to try close on Petit Mouchoir and paid the price. Had he not threw everything to try get upsides people would be complaining about his ride.
Royal caviar made a stupid mistake – horses do it sometimes.

There is a clear and obvious dislike of Ruby Walsh and people love to criticize him more than they do any other jockey. The best often get that though.

[BigG]

KingSprinterSacre wrote:

Today was the first time Ruby has fallen or unseated when leading at the last since the 26th of Feb last year. Its almost like people want it to happen so they can jump on facebook/twitter/forums and yap about him.

Nichols canyon was tired a fall. He was ridden to try close on Petit Mouchoir and paid the price. Had he not threw everything to try get upsides people would be complaining about his ride.
Royal caviar made a stupid mistake – horses do it sometimes.

There is a clear and obvious dislike of Ruby Walsh and people love to criticize him more than they do any other jockey. The best often get that though.

I can’t speak for everyone KSS, but I think Ruby (as I stated above) is a top jockey. The subject of last
fence falls has been on the go for a while now, and it probably stands out more because Ruby is on high
profile top horses. I’m not about to trail through the archives to find how many there have been, but you
certainly don’t have to go back to 26th Feb last year, Augusta Kate 3 weeks back in the Lawlor’s Hotel
Novice Chase at NAAS is one that springs to mind. I’ve already said, as others on this thread have, that he
did nothing wrong in the fall of Nichols Canyon, it was as you said a tired fall. I do think he could have
done a bit more with Royal Caviar, but that’s just my opinion. You won’t find posts of mine slagging off
jockeys in this forum, in fact I’m getting a bit fed up defending Barry Geraghty, who I think is equally a
top jockey, but I do think it’s fair to comment on something which has happened a noticeable number of
times, and has been discussed in the media in general, not just twitter/facebook, which I don’t read, or
other forums.

[KingSprinterSacre]

My post was in no way directed at you BigG – its just a growing frustration I have similar to you with Barry G. Theres a pathetic topic in the Cheltenham part of this forum which I am surprised still exists.
I’m in agreement with you it crops up because of the profile of the yard/horses/jockey.

Just on Augusta Kate – she wasnt leading and I find it hard to believe she would have beat Death Duty the way he finished the race but I also accept I cant say that for definite. Game of opinions.
Cheers for the reply and again it wasnt directed at you or anyone in here in particular.

[Jasolong]

It’s just a laugh In the Cheltenham bit KSS you clearly don’t think humour has any place in racing.
I had no intention of mocking horses that fall and get injured or jockeys that get injured. Just mocking punters to be honest who get stung by last fence mistakes.
You need to lighten up mate racing isn’t a brexit debate.
And top sportsman are not immune to critisism especially when gambling is involved and this critisism isn’t misplaced at all which you seem to think it is.
Racing needs humour sometimes, if you take it the wrong way then that’s your problem. People like Matt chapman are the future.
The terms and conditions should of said no banter allowed in this forum because we have sensitive people on here

[KingSprinterSacre]

I’m one of Matts biggest fans. I’ll be watching On the Line later today.
Quite easy to claim humour after getting a negative reaction to your post to be honest.
Your post is below and its an absolute whopper. Theres no banter in this at all. You said you hate to say, that he tried to fall on a horse and you don’t care if you get stick for your post. It doesn’t come across as a post written for ‘banter’

Hate to say it but Ruby was at it again today fell twice at the last.
Tried to fall on let’s dance aswell.
Don’t care if I get stuck for this but it’s getting ridiculous and I can see it happening at the festival

[Jasolong]

You’re embarrassing yourself mate. If I thought jockeys fell off horses on purpose you’ve got a screw loose. Firstly it would jeopardise the whole sport and secondly the horse and jockey risk serious injury every time they go on the horse! Look at Freddie tylicki!
if your so out of touch with humour God knows how many things must offend you.

I’m actually gutted you feel think that I believe Ruby jumps off them on purpose I never in a million years thought anyone would take it that way.

I hope we can put this thing behind us.
If I genuinely thought Ruby jumps off on purpose I would stand by it.

I do however believe there may be some kind of mental block In Ruby’s brain lately in that he seems nervous at the last hurdle.
I’m prepared to put it down to coincidence though as I’m sure it can’t keep happening. He’s a superb jockey

[befair]

Are ther any stats on Roby’s last fence falls, compared to other jockeys, bearing in mind that these stats can be skewed in many ways.

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