Walsh shines at Cheltenham 2009

Ruby Walsh has emerged as the star of the 2009 Cheltenham Festival after guiding 5 horses to victory over the first three days of racing.

Over three days of racing Walsh has produced two impressive achievements. On Wednesday the Irishman rode three consecutive winners, becoming the first jockey in a decade to do so.

Then on Thursday Walsh rode Big Buck's to a surprise victory in the World Hurdle, adding that win to Master Minded's victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and taking his tally of feature race wins to two for the festival.

On Friday Walsh will have the opportunity to complete a rare hat-trick of Cheltenham Festival feature race wins when he saddles Kauto Star for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A win in the Gold Cup will see Walsh take his tally of winners to six, and with his next closest rival sitting on two wins, its already a given that Paul Nicholls' first choice jockey will walk away from the 2009 Cheltenham Festival with the Top Jockey award.