Ruby Walsh starts with a bang but insists there's a lot more to life than riding Cheltenham winners

The top jockey favourite won the first at Prestbury Park but took time to remember friends.

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.

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Adrian Russell

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Alex Olsen 8y

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Apr 25th 2017, 11:54 PM

I don’t know who Valeri is…

Conor HF 10y

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Apr 26th 2017, 12:53 AM

@Alex Olsen: best post ever

Niall Campbell 9y

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Apr 26th 2017, 8:21 AM

@Alex Olsen: he’s good on FIFA, that’s all I really know about him.

Thomas Ryan 11y

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Apr 26th 2017, 2:05 AM

valeri is the best player in the league

Kieran O Callaghan 12y

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Apr 26th 2017, 9:47 AM

@Thomas Ryan: if he’s that good, why doesn’t Valeri come on over, to Europe……..

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