Ruby Walsh's view: Paul panicked and reacted wrong – that's what being human is

Mistakes happen. What Paul did on Al Boum Photo looked like a moment of panic, and when you react in panic you always do the wrong thing. That’s in every walk of life, whatever you are doing.

Paul panicked and just reacted wrong – that’s what it means to be a human being.

I felt so sorry for him. When he rolled over and realised what had happened, at that point I just felt so sorry for him.

I don’t know what happened out there.

Paul said he heard something, and if something takes your concentration, changes where your concentration is at or changes your mindset, then you're thinking, “What, what, what!” You're not thinking clearly anymore.

He went to bypass the fence and, as he said himself, he couldn’t remember if it was left or right. Then he isn’t even looking at the fence, he is panicking. It’s just human error.

These things happen, and it won’t be the last time someone makes a mistake. The good thing is no-one has died – it’s just sport.

The title ramifications are adding to the interest in the story but I think you will see the mental strength of Paul Townend on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He will bounce back.

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