KATIE WALSH CAN RIDE SEABASS TO VICTORY IN GRAND NATIONAL

'WILL a female jockey win the Grand National?' is the question that has been hitting the headlines this week, and I think it could happen.

Katie Walsh, sister of champion jockey Ruby Walsh, is the only woman riding in the race and she will be partnering Seabass again, who finished third last year.

Seabass almost galloped to victory last year, but couldn't quite keep up with Sunnyhillboy and eventual winner, Neptune Collonges.

But I believe Katie has come back stronger this year and will charge past the post in prime position.

My money is on her.

I remember watching the 2012 Grand National. I was at my parents' house and we had a family friend over. 

He decided to watch the race with us, and when Katie was shown on our television screen, he said: "She won't win. She's a woman."

No one really knew how to answer him. But I did. I replied that being a woman makes no difference to winning or losing, and I believed Katie would produce a world-class performance, as she always does.

And she did. Third position is great - a fantastic achievement, the best position by any female jockey in the race.

But Katie can finish in a better position this year. She can win and everybody knows it.

At the moment, Seabass is around 10/1 to win, and Katie's brother, Ruby, is currently favourite with On His Own at 7/1.

A jockey needs a lot of luck in the Grand National, but with focus and determination, I am positive Katie will do the girls - and racing - proud.

WALSH HIGH IN THE SKY WITH HURRICANE FLY

RUBY Walsh has once again chosen Hurricane Fly over Zarkandar in the Stan James Champion Hurdle - but it hasn't been a concern for Paul Nicholls.

We all know Ruby is a world-class jockey and his loyalty to the horses never goes unnoticed.

I will always remember his decision between Kauto Star and Denman in the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup – so much speculation surrounded his choice and I even asked him which horse he would pick during a previous meeting at the Gloucestershire racecourse.

His answer: “I would like to know myself!”

Walsh is the stable jockey to both Nicholls and Willie Mullins and he previously rode Hurricane Fly in the last Champion Hurdle.

He finished third, with Zarkandar fifth, but both Nicholls and Mullins believe their entries are different horses this time round.

Daryl Jacob is to take over Zarkandar but Nicholls doesn’t look at it as Ruby deserting the yard.

The trainer has enjoyed an unbeaten run with Zarkandar, who is one of three fighting for the position as second favourite in the race.

The Cheltenham Festival isn’t far away now. I find myself checking news updates everyday and I have always thought it’s the best week’s racing.

Hurricane Fly and Zarkandar will battle it out on the track and I am sure the result will be better than last year for them both.

But do you think Walsh’s decision is the right one? Or should he have chosen Nicholls' Zarkandar?

TIDAL BAY COULD WIN DOUBLE IN WORLD HURDLE AND GRAND NATIONAL

2012 has been the year for Tidal Bay – his victory in the Lexus Chase was world-class and certainly got people talking.

When he wasn’t in the top three over the final fence I didn’t think Ruby Walsh would be able to push him to glory at Leopardstown.

But when he powered ahead of the field in the final stages of the race, the racing world knew he was the one to watch.

Now trainer Paul Nicholls believes Tidal Bay could be the horse to compete in both the World Hurdle and the Grand National.

Kauto Star has shown the racing world that an older racehorse should never be doubted and Tidal Bay, aged 11, certainly isn’t a horse anyone will forget any time soon.

After seeing Walsh with Tidal Bay at Leopardstown, I understand why Nicholls is ambitious towards the horse’s future. Whatever race the trainer gives them, the pair will go for victory.

2013 would be another spectacular year if Tidal Bay pulled off the unique double. But can he finish with his nose in front again? Let’s hope 2013 brings the Ditcheat team more fortune. 

PAUL NICHOLLS IS STILL AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME

Trainer Paul Nicholls is pulling out big names for Sandown's Tingle Creek Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

With wonder horses Kauto Star and Denman now retired, stablemates of the two racing legends have been passed the baton that will take them to glory.

Sanctuaire, the highest rated novice chaser Nicholls has ever trained and remains unbeaten in all three starts over fences, will feature in the Tingle Creek Chase on Saturday December 8.

But despite his success he faces a tough test in his reappearance on the track with unbeaten second-season chaser Sprinter Sacre.

The Tingle Creek attracts the best two mile steeple chasers in the country and often acts as a springboard for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Kauto Star is also to make a special appearance at Sandown Park next weekend.

But things haven't stopped there for the trainer. Silviniaco Conti is joint-favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

The six-year-old ridden by top jockey Ruby Walsh is now 5-1jf for racing's biggest event after winning by two-and-a-half-lengths in Haydock's Betfair Chase to make it two wins from a total of two starts this season.

On the day a statue of Kauto Star was unveiled at Haydock, where he won the Betfair Chase four times, it was great to see Silviniaco Conti emerge as a possible superstar.

So Paul Nicholls shows no sign of slowing down and it is wonderful to watch more of his high-rated horses come into racing's spotlight.

Sanctuaire and Silviniaco Conti are just two examples of Nicholls' tremendous work he does for the sport and I have no doubt that the trainer can keep on creating winners in all the years he will remain in racing.

KAUTO STAR RETURNS TO YARD BUT SHOULD HE RUN AGAIN?

As the world of Flat racing holds its breath over the where Frankel will run his last race, there is a similar story to be told within National Hunt racing. 

Kauto Star has returned to Paul Nicholls' yard at the same time his stable mate Denman has left for a post-racing career as a team chaser. 

With questions being raised over the horse's future, should the popular 12-year-old return to the track for one last race? 

Kauto Star's previous run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup certainly enlightened these thoughts. Despite a heavy fall in schooling three weeks before the race, Nicholls still decided to enter his champion alongside rival Long Run.

However, it was too much to ask from the two-time Gold Cup champion, as jockey Ruby Walsh pulled  him up before the tenth fence. 

When Walsh finished the popular race that day, the crowd immediately cheered and clapped. It was noise worthy for a winner. 

And that's what I believe Kauto Star is: he is one of NH's finest, similar to how Frankel is to the Flat. 

I admire the ambition and faith Nicholls puts into Kauto Star as he is a wonder to watch. Last season the old race horse stamped his authority on NH racing. He landed a fifth King George VI Chase title at Kempton as well as returning to Haydock in perfect form. But best of all he is now mentioned in the same awe that Desert Orchid always will be.

I believe that Kauto Star has run his last race and we should remember him for the great titles he has already won; not the ones we thought he could. 

It has been an absolute pleasure watching the 12-year-old compete all his life. But for now I think that Kauto Star should follow Denman in a post-racing career. He has been out of the field all summer and despite having time to rest and soak up more energy, Nicholls should hang up his reins.

I agree that having Kauto Star back on the track for another potential win would be fantastic, but I would hate to see him having to be pulled up again.

If the champion did return for another season, he would have to be sure of a win, otherwise it will be difficult to remember him in the same light as we do now. 

But what an outstanding career he has had. Kauto Star and Frankel = two wonders of the sporting world. 

RUBY WALSH: FACT-FILE

It has been a while since my last horse racing post, so I have decided to focus on jockey's who have inspired me to work in the sport.

Ruby Walsh is a sportsman who has definitely been an inspiration, not only to fellow jockeys but also to pundits and journalists.

He tackles every race with determination and enthusiasm: not only in the high-profile races but also in the ones that may not mean as much with regards to media attention or prize money.

So here's why Mr Walsh has stood out of the crowd and is one of the reasons why horse racing is an attractive sport to admire:

FACT-FILE

Ruby Walsh dreamt that one day he would become racing’s most successful jockey and achieve high-profile wins within the sport.

At the 2009 Cheltenham Festival Walsh rode a record-breaking seven winners over the four days, yet on the second racing day of the 2010 Festival, the Irish hero rode Sanctuaire to victory in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Handicap Hurdle to make him the most successful jockey in the history of the spectacular racing event.

It should therefore come to no surprise seeing Walsh as odds-on favourite to be top jockey at this year’s Cheltenham Festival as the 32-year-old showed immense talent from an early age.

Born Rupert Walsh on May 14 1979, the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey is the second child of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh.

At a young age, Walsh won the Irish amateur title twice 1996/7 and 1997/98 before turning into the professional that we all know him to be.

The Irish wonder won the John Smith’s Grand National on his first attempt in 2000, aged 20, on Papillon, a horse trained by his father.

Ruby’s dream of being racing’s most successful jockey has become reality. To date he has ridden over nineteen hundred winners since his first win on Alexander Banquet in 1998.

The jockey really does create a buzz for all racing fans: his determination and love for the sport is visible to all and trainer Paul Nicholls must realise how lucky he is to have Ruby ride for his yard.

In March 2011 he rode Hurricane Fly to victory in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing ahead of Peddlers Cross and popular horse Oscar Whisky. This was Ruby’s first triumph in the feature race and now he’s had it all: Walsh’s vision of winning high-profile races is no longer down to wishful thinking. He can live in reality.

KAUTO STAR EXITS FROM GOLD CUP BUT REMAINS THE WINNER OF RACING

And so the Cheltenham Festival is over for another year. Racing's most spectacular event has ended with shocks, surprises, happiness and sadness.

Kauto Star's exit from the Gold Cup produced a rare sight: applause and respect filled the grounds when Ruby Walsh pulled the horse up with 13 more jumps to go.

For me, the 2012 Gold Cup made me realise how much I love the sport as well as how much it made me realise I want to be a horse racing journalist.

Unfortunately I had a briefing at work at 3:30pm yesterday and as it takes me 15 minutes to drive there, I had to leave home five minutes before race time. 

'Damn', I thought. 'This year's Gold Cup is going to be magnificent but I was going to miss it.' 

Thank goodness for radio though! I tuned into the race and was able to listen to the commentary. Pheww! I wouldn't have to know the result of the race after everyone else. 

But I did something which I had never done before when listening to a race, or watching one for that matter. When Walsh pulled Kauto Star up, I cried. 

I know what some of you may be thinking, 'Crying over a horse?! That's pretty extreme.'

But Kauto Star isn't just any horse - he's a champion. He's respected throughout the racing world: he's a superstar. 

He has brought joy to the sport. Not only did we enjoy watching him race, but he loved racing. He doesn't want to be standing in a field chewing on grass all day long; he wants to be racing with Ruby and having crowds of spectators applauding him.

But then the race got to the crucial stage - it got so tense that I had to pull into the nearest car-park to listen to it.

I backed Midnight Chase as he is a Cheltenham horse, so I was at the edge of my seat when Dougie Costello was leading him round the course.

Goodness knows what people in the other cars thought: 'What is that girl doing waving her arms in the air and yelling at herself?'

A.P McCoy rode Synchronised to a glorious victory. No doubt about it. He niggled the horse throughout the race, giving him constant reminders and pushing him to first place.

He deserved the win but even though Long Run was heavily backed he failed to make an impact. Tony did a brilliant job. 

But Kauto Star will always be remembered in the 2012 Gold Cup as a hero, not a disappointment. He has made non-horse racing fans enjoy racing. People know who Kauto Star is. 

His name will go down in history along with the likes of Best Mate, Dawn Run and Red Rum. I think you will agree with me on this one because this sporting legend deserves it. 

ROUND-UP OF DAY 1 AT CHELTENHAM

The Cheltenham Festival got off to a roaring start yesterday but finished with shocks and surprises.

Ruby Walsh did not have a great start yesterday: he rode champion horses yet failed to make an impact until late afternoon.

Hurricane Fly was perhaps the biggest disappointment of the day. Having set off at 4/6 Mullins' horse looked set to storm ahead of the group.

But he only finished third as Rock On Ruby, ridden by Noel Fehily, surprised punters as he finished in first place at 11/1.

Walsh knew he should have won that race and so did Mullins. It was great to see an outsider win the race and Fehily deserved the win. But I cannot help but feel a little disappointed towards Walsh and Hurricane Fly.

Al Ferof was another example of how yesterday was not Ruby's day. The grey finished fourth whilst Sprinter Sacre created a buzz for the crowd at Cheltenham.

Barry Geraghty rode the horse to a splendid victory but if Al Ferof had not made that mistake over the jump, he could have finished ahead of Henderson's horse.

However, Walsh redeemed himself by riding Quevega to victory.

She was perhaps the best horse of the day for me as she has performed perfectly.

Cinders and Ashes, at 10/1, got the Festival off to an encouraging start.

Day 2 has arrived and everyone can expect more show-stopping races. Place your bets and enjoy.

MIDNIGHT CHASE STORMS AHEAD IN THE ARGENTO CHASE

MIDNIGHT CHASE has won the Argento Chase (Registered as the  (Grade 2)  Cotswold Chase) today beating favourites Diamond Harry and Tidal Bay.

The horse was ridden fantastically by Dougie Costello and kept hold of the lead throughout the race.

The 11-2 horse produced a brilliant performance by jumping fluently and travelling well, even when Tidal Bay was hot on his hooves.

But Walsh was unable to catch up with Costello as he powered past the post.

Diamond Harry was disappointing given his odds and Captain Chris was pulled up early on in the race.

Midnight Chase is now priced at 25-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Definitely worth an each-way bet.

MY SELECTIONS FOR CHELTENHAM - SATURDAY JANUARY 28 2012

12:55 - Baby Mix
Currently on form and with Paddy Brennan on board the horse will be difficult to beat.

13:10 - Reverse Exacta: That'lldoboy
                                        Charminster

14:10 - Chance Du Roy
Fancy a outsider for this race. Horse been travelling well and with Johnson as jockey the horse should be capable of producing a good performance.

14:35 - Midnight Chase
Has won at Cheltenham before and in for a fair chance. Travels well over fences so should be given a second look.

15:10 - Broadbackbob

15:40 - Big Buck's
Can he win for the 15th consecutive time? In a competitive field but with the pace he's producing this should be ideal for him. Horse to beat.

16:10 - Hinterland
Ruby Walsh on board and the horse has run well previously. In for a good shot.
            Feeling Lucky? Koup De Kanon for the exacta.

CAN PROSPECT WELLS WIN SANDOWN'S TOLWORTH HURDLE?

ENTERING Prospect Wells in tomorrow's Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown was an 'afterthought', claimed Graham Wylie.

Paul Nicholls' superb Flat performer has made a brilliant debut to his hurdling career and he currently stands as a favourite for the 2Red Hurdle Novices' Hurdle.

The seven-year-old horse finished runner-up at Cheltenham, behind Steps To Freedom, before another win at Newbury.

His first race over hurdles saw him finish in first place at Chepstow. 

Even though it was admitted that the gelding should have some time away from racing after his creditable fourth in The Ladbroke at Ascot, it has been decided the horse should run in tomorrow's race with Ruby Walsh on board.

KAUTO STAR WINS THE KING GEORGE VI CHASE FOR THE FIFTH TIME

KAUTO STAR made history in the racing world by winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton for the fifth time today.

Paul Nicholls' Champion Chaser ran a superb race by beating the Nicky Henderson's Long Run.

Kauto Star had equalled Desert Orchid's record with four wins in the Chase at Kempton, but his latest triumph in his career has now seen him crowned the 'King of Kings'.

Ruby Walsh, who rode Kauto Star to victory, said that the horse is "amazing" and he's just like a "fairytale". 

The 11 year-old put his rivals to shame as he put on a fantastic jumping performance and once he hit the home straight, not even Long Run could catch him.

Even though Kauto Star is to turn 12 next week, trainer Paul Nicholls said that "he is the best".

"If he gets to Cheltenham in that form he will be the one to beat," he added.

BIG BUCKS EN ROUTE TO BECOMING A LEGEND AFTER 14TH CONSECUTIVE WIN

BIG BUCKS is now on the road to being a legendary horse in the racing world after winning his 14th successive victory on Saturday (17th).

The horse, trained by Paul Nicholls, has a special talent that was easily visible in the Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, and it is fair to say that he is now en route to becoming one of the greatest horses in the sport.

If Nicholls had not steered the horse back to hurdles, Big Bucks' story would have been very different.

Stablemates Kauto Star and Denman add to Nicholls' success as both horses are also champions within the sport. Even though Denman retired earlier this month due to injury, 'The Tank' is remains high up with the greatest.

The reappearance of Big Buck's in the public eye will increase his interest in the Festival early next year, where he will try and make a 15th consecutive win. 

Ruby Walsh summed up Big Bucks' potential by claiming the horse could win an Ascot Gold Cup.

This horse is definitely one to put your money on.