'He was better than me and everyone else' - McCoy in tribute to old rival Walsh

Sir Anthony McCoy on Thursday described his close friend Ruby Walsh as the jockey who was better than everyone else, himself included, as he reflected on the weighing-room legend's retirement and forecast that adjusting to a life without race-riding may not be easy.

The 20-time British champion jockey has regularly been described as the greatest of all time but he placed Walsh above him in the pecking order when paying tribute to the sporting superstar who quit the saddle after winning Wednesday's Coral Punchestown Gold Cup on Kemboy.

Hurricane Fly and Ruby Walsh beat Jezki and Sir Anthony McCoy at Leopardstown in December 2014Credit: Caroline Norris

"He was the best," said McCoy. "He was better than me and he was better than everyone else. I said on Wednesday that he was the Messi of horseracing and I meant it. You can't teach a kid to be like Ruby Walsh. You can't coach someone to have what he had.

"Just look at all the great horses he rode, all the big-race winners he had. They're what make him the best, although his greatest asset was probably his mindset and being able to come back from so many injuries.

"He had it all. When we were riding together I used to hate watching him make the running because you knew he was going at exactly the pace he wanted, not one stride faster. He was also great when he dropped a horse in. It never gets mentioned but when he won on Dun Doire at Cheltenham he came from as far back as Wichita Lineman."

Although rumours had been circulating that Walsh might finish his incredible career at Punchestown, McCoy had not expected stumps to be drawn on Wednesday.

McCoy said: "I had never discussed it with him and I only found out when everybody else did but I wasn't totally shocked – although I was a little surprised as he's still riding better than everyone and that would have been true five years from now if he had carried on.

"When he won on Min and Kemboy at Aintree he celebrated much more than normal. Then when I saw his wife Gillian and the kids go to the Grand National, and knowing how much Ruby would have wanted them there if he had won, I started to put two and two together.

"I genuinely knew five years before I retired when I would stop. The date was set. Ruby didn't decide as far out as that, and he was still riding as well as ever, but the truth is that every sportsperson has their time. It's better for you to retire than for the sport to retire you."

Walsh did indeed take the decision when he wanted – but McCoy also offered some cautionary words for the coming months.

"It will be a big loss for Ruby," he said. "He doesn't realise it yet, but it will be. I know he was ready to retire and he won't miss breaking legs, all the other injuries and going to hospital, but he will miss the adrenaline rush and living on the edge. He will miss the big stage.

"Racing is going to miss him as well. He leaves a big hole. We always want to watch people who are brilliant, whether it's Tiger Woods, Roger Federer or Ruby Walsh. People like that don't come along very often."

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