THE THOUGHTS OF WALSH...
IF YOU COULD HAVE A RACE AGAIN, WOULD IT BE ANNIE POWER IN THE 2015 MARES’ HURDLE?
(The 4-7 favourite fell at the last to deny Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins an opening four-timer) YOU ask me do I want to ride one again. Annie Power? No. What could I do about that? Horses jump or fall. If I could ride one horse at Cheltenham again, it would be Commanche Court after his second in the 2002 Gold Cup. Off the final bend, I went to join See More Business but Commanche Court made a mistake at the second last fence while Best Mate got a run on the inside. He’s the one I’d like to ride again. My dad Ted trained him and it was the Gold Cup. Tactically, when you do something wrong, that grates.
ON RIDING FOR IRISH CHAMPION TRAINER WILLIE MULLINS
WILLIE is an artist and a great man to ride for. You make your plan and have a go. If you get it wrong, say so and move on. He has been a huge part of my career. I have always found him to be very fair. I love riding for him. He allows you to express yourself and has great faith in you to do the right thing.
ON RIDING AGAINST AP McCOY, THE 20-TIME CHAMPION JOCKEY
I HAVE less friends in the weighing room than I had 10 years ago. Most of them have retired! I miss AP. I miss the competition he brought to it and the intensity of having to compete against him. I’d like to think we all pushed each other. Richard Dunwoody drove AP McCoy, who pushed the rest of us. He drove the car and we tried to catch up. I don’t know if it was a golden generation, but it was great to be part of it.
ON RETIREMENT
I DON’T know what I will do when I pack it in but it will have to be horses. They are all I know. I had better make use of the experience I have somewhere along the way.
IS SAMCRO THE IRISH BANKER IN TOMORROW’S OPENING RACE?
HE HAS done everything asked of him. I’d take the arm off you to ride him! People say it’s pressure riding him. It’s not my idea of pressure, it’s a penalty kick. Samcro looks rock solid. I was used to that with Quevega (six-time winner of the Mares’ Hurdle). I used to think, whatever goes along we have her.