It’s oh so Easy for Ruby on big return
RUBY Walsh made the perfect comeback when guiding Easy Game to a convincing victory in the festival opener, the Galmont.com & Galwaybayhotel.com
Novice Hurdle.
Out of action since breaking his leg at the Cheltenham festival in March, the multiple champion kept it simple on the Willie Mullins-trained 5/4 favourite, which raced prominently throughout before beating Count
Simon emphatically.
“It’s good to be back and, hopefully, I’ll last longer than a week this time,” quipped a relieved Walsh.
“The leg has felt great for a long time, but it’s been a long old road back.”
And he added: “My daughter Jenny is four and she said in the card –
Daddy, please try not to break your leg again.”
And, discussing Easy Game’s win, he explained: “He jumped and travelled super. It was just a case of getting the fractions right, but he came up the hill strong.”
And winning trainer
Willie Mullins said: “It’s great to have Ruby back. He kept it simple. The horse is a natural jumper and climbed the hill. It’s a nice start to the week.”
Mullins, who also saddled a one-two in the feature, was expected to capture the bumper with odds-on favourite Royal
Rendezvous.
But he could finish only fifth behind the Emmet Mullins-trained Zero Ten, ridden for the Mee family by Derek O’connor.
The 9/1 shot, keen early, kept Exit Poll at bay by a length and a half and will now go hurdling.