Ruby Walsh to battle for the Derby Awards Honours On Monday 5th December 2005, the 39th Horserace Writers' & Photographers' Association (HWPA) Derby Awards will honour the cream of international racing at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel. The awards are supported by Blue Square, the interactive bookmaker, who have made Irish jockey Ruby Walsh the 5/4 Favourite to win the National Hunt Jockey of the Year Award. With nearly 700 guests attending the famous lunch, the 'Oscars' of racing are considered the most important in the racing calendar, as it is the votes of the racing journalists that secure these important accolades. The annual honouring of racing's best highlights the achievements of trainers, jockeys, horses, owners and many more aspects of the racing world. This year Ruby Walsh, the Irish champion jockey, has been nominated for The National Hunt Jockey of the Year Award along with A.P McCoy, Graham Lee and Timmy Murphy in what is expected to be a very tight contest reflecting the tough and competitive nature of jump racing. Ruby must have a great claim to this year's award after winning his second Grand National, courtesy of Hedgehunter, in the 2005 race, plus winning two races at this years Cheltenham Festival on Thisthatandtother for Paul Nicholls and Missed That for Willie Mullins. He still maintains strong links to his native land, racing regularly in Ireland and could well feature in the Blue Square Royal Bond Novice Hurdle on Sunday December 4th at Fariyhouse.
