CHAMPION JOCKEY FAVOURITE Ruby Walsh started his Cheltenham Festival as he means to go on in the first race of the week.
Vautour romped home to land Walsh his 39th win of the Festival but afterwards the Kildare native insisted on some perspective.
“There’s a lot more to riding winners at Cheltenham,” Walsh told interviewers at Prestbury Park.
“When you see what happened to Jason Maguire yesterday, and AP showed me a picture of his boy Archie. Just makes you thank God your kids are alright.”
Gran National-winning jockey Maguire will miss the action in the Cotswolds this week after he suffered a bad fall at Stratford yesterday and has since been placed in a coma.
AP McCoy’s infant son, Archie meanwhile, underwent cardiac surgery on Friday.
After my comments on the journal last night, I’d like to say I feel I went a bit over the top with a number of people regarding the Irish team selection. I felt my comments were judge-mental and rude and for that I’d like to take this chance to
apologize,
To absolutely NOBODY. All you fan boys can keep being salty. Farrell has picked burns as the main kicker who nearly missed a kick in front of the posts on Sunday. Nothing even has to be said for Keith Earls. Absolutely shocking team.
@Dave: Johnny missed touch last week too and on many occasions in the past, it happens. I believe Earls has a proven record at test level. Still one of the fastest in the squad, great in the air and defensively sound. Whereas you’re track record shows something far less desirable
@Dave: t
@Dave: that’s really clever what you did there! I was hooked, so excited about this apology from some random man on the internet, but then you totally flipped it!! So clever. Well done!!
@Dave: you must be feeling a little lonely over on Twitter with your 6 followers, but hopefully you’ll get a response over here to your trolling.
@Dave: Conor MacGregor called, he wants his shtick back
@Dave: come on pal, you haven’t seen your wife and kids in 3 days. Put the phone down and go downstairs
@Sam Murray: pretty sure the wife has left him
@David Nugent: pretty sure a gowl lile him never has a wife to begin with. Who’d have him?
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: ha ha
@Dave: Lol! Brilliant.
Sexton and Murray haven’t given a performece for a long time. Let’s give the new fellas a chance…
@Leonard O’mahony: nonsense, Sexton may have been a little bit off his usual outstanding self lately but hasn’t been a million miles off and Murray was poor early last year but is having one of his best seasons this time around. In saying that I’m delighted other lads are getting a chance in a big game
I’m 95% sure Sexton would of been jogging out Sunday afternoon if it wasn’t for this doctor, I’d say his wife and mum wouldn’t let him play tbh and fair enough.
@hypebeast: you’d be wrong then. I’d imagine the doctors in the Irish camp would uphold their professionalism regardless
I was deflated reading the team today. But on reflection even if we lose this will be a good thing. Hopefully the younger guys get a taste of what its like to play a proper French team. Im sure its heart over head stuff but I think this team have so much to prove and will want to win for Farrell and co especially given the doctors unprofessional comments. Casey and Byrne might come on and give a Stringer and O Gara type performance to win a close game in the dying minutes. In the words of Christopher Reeve “Once you choose hope anythings possible”
While it is never good players’ losing spots due to injury or misfortune, I am somewhat looking forward to seeing why sort of bench Ireland has ahead of the RWC2023. Sexton, Murray, O’Mahony, Earls, Healy all need to be replaced. So while I have sympathy for the injured (not for O’Mahony as he was just stupid), I am glad that these guys are getting a shot. I think the average age of the Irish squad is at least 5 years too old to be considered contenders in 2023.
@Corkonian In Dublin: you say that you “think”, I suggest you find something you’re good at instead.
We’re going to lose anyway so might as well give a few young guys a chance
Plenty of rumours whispering about Sextons field of vision being impaired. It may be time. Just saying.