Don't know why. Presumably he's losing out on prize money having to ride Mr Nicholls donkeys when he could be on Willie's far better team. That and I'd be fairly confident he doesn't expect to see Big Bucks on a race course again.
Tonight. Check the Irish Examiner tomorrow. He explains apparently. It'll be full of bollocks excuses though. Bottom line Nicholls doesn't win big races nowadays with that much regularity. Willie does. He has to turn down lucrative rides in Ireland to go to Enfland.
I thought he had the choice of both Nicholls and Mullins horses, he could pick and choose which ones he rides. So makes no sense to me. The only reason it'd be worth quiting is if Henderson was offering him rides, and there's no way Henderson would get rid of Geraghty, who has proven to be the best jockey in the business of late
Hmmm, it certainly is out of the blue to me anyway. Thanks Bob, i'll get it in few hours and have a read.
It's been a truly magical partnership but as the old German saying goes "everything has an end, only a sausage has 2"
I've suspected this for a while now, And with Nicholls having two dismal festivals in as many years aswell as losing his championship to Henderson, Ruby probably fears that Nicholls is going to need a few seasons to renew his squad. Any stable would feel the loss of Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Neptune Collonges to retirement aswell as losing to stable stars in Al Ferof and Big Bucks early in the season to injury, The latter who I suspect will never see a racecourse on a competetive stage again. Nicholls as lost his assistant, his jockey and his championship all in the space of a season but you don't have the success hes had without being a great trainer and he'll be back - Henderson had to sit and suffer whilst Nicholls was dominating and it comes in cycles. Willie Mullins as a great team and seems to be getting stronger by the season and with Nicholls needing a few years to probably renew his stable it makes sense. But what a partnership they've been, 600+ winners multiple Gr1's and Championships - One of the very best the game as seen...
Don't think there is anything other than being fed up of 5am starts and getting home after 8pm, seeing very little of your two young kids. Just finished Ruby's book and it strikes me that family comes first with the Walshs so this is not a surprise really. Ruby will do an AP now on the jocks championship in Ireland with the Mullins stable behind him along with other spare rides for Martin, Hourigan and Weld. He will still have the odd ride for Nicholls in the big races in the UK. It's a great opportunity for Jacob and hope it works out for him.
Maybe I'm a little cynical. They say family is the biggest reason. That might be true. This wouldn't have happened if Kauto was still knocking about.
couldnt agree more bob, if the Star was still around no way would ruby let some one else ride him - (look what happend with AP on board) and we wouldnt be hearing this if Big Bucks was fit!
This has been on the card for the last 12 months. As stated above when you actually analyse the respective strings of Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls it's a bit like choosing to play football for Man Utd or Mansfield Town. Terrible news for Paul Nicholls, with all due respect to Daryl Jacob, but in loosing Ruby he's lost the greatest jumps jockey of all time. I also feel for Paul Townend, he's too good to be a number two jockey and though he didn't get many of the big rides with Ruby usually available it probably feels like a big door slamming shut in his career prospects. Sadly this news puts an end to the classic 'will Ruby be on the Fly or Zarkander in the Champion Hurdle' question
It's a shame we'll be seeing less of Ruby in Britain. I'd be inclined to take it at face value and accept that he wants to spend more time with his family. Mind you, I've heard his landlord over here can be a moody bugger, so maybe that had something to do with it.
Agree with most of the above except A P McCoy IS the greatest jump jockey of all time! I wish Jacob all the best as number one but will he actually be number one when the big races come along? If Walsh were available to Big Bucks in next years World Hurdle I wonder who Nicholls would want in the saddle.
I wonder if Townend will look elsewhere now that'll he' be picking up the second string rides at Mullins yard. Fine jockey so he should have no probs if he decided to give it a go across the pond.
My sausage only has one end, Oddy- but it's not very spicy and doesn't have much meat on it nowadays. On a serious note, Walsh's decision was only to be expected. With or without Mullins, he'd still command good rides. Given Mullins' strong stable, the decision would be easier, despite his strong relationship with Nicholls. Regarding Nicholls losing his big stars ie.Kauto, Denman, etc, most top trainers have 'golden periods' where they have an embarras de richesse....Nicholls will almost certainly never have another collection of top horses like he's had for the past five years; likewise Henderson with his current crop. In fairness, Nicholls has enjoyed a more protracted spell than most. Thinking back, Tom Dreaper's really golden spell only lasted about three years before such horses as Arkle, Flyingbolt, Ben Stack, and Fort Leney had all disappeared. This may be 'Henderson's time' but Willie Mullins seems to keep introducing more and more top horses on a continual basis, and history may show him to be mightier than either Nicholls or Henderson. He certainly has great strength in depth.
Can't understand what all the fuss is about, one-end sausages or not. I fully accept the stated reasons, i.e. Ruby has a young family growing-up, lives in Ireland, and wants to be with them. Spends far too much time away, as I did in my life. Difference is (not just because he is one of the world's greatest at his job, which I was a million miles from being in my game ), he has a choice. I didn't really, only damn job I could do half decently, and that was abroad. I really don't think there are any dark and deep reasons for this parting of the ways. He will still ride for Paul now and again, that's for sure. Have cut that last comment I made; was rude of me!
If Big Bucks is back on track next year, Ruby can still ride him?! Why would that change? He'll put Jacob up on Celestial...
Agree NamNed, he'll almost certainly ride for Paul when he happens to be over here riding for Mullins, and he is available.
