Walsh not counting '˜but I'm still a long way behind' both Johnson and McCoy

The 10-times Irish champion jumps jockey took it all in his stride at the destination at which he recorded his first domestic winner, aboard Siren Song, trained by his father, Ted, in July 1995.

When asked about having seemingly hit the milestone, Walsh said: “I know one person that’s not counting anyway.”

Reflecting on why there might be a little confusion as to the exact number of his wins, Walsh said: “I probably would have ridden a few as an amateur on the Flat more so than as a professional. I don’t know to be honest, but when you think about it, it’s still a long way behind Dicky (Richard Johnson) and a very, very long way behind AP (McCoy).”

The best big race jockey in National Hunt history, Walsh counts an array of headline prizes among his triumphs, including the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, on both sides of the Irish Sea.

He also boasts an Australian Grand National success after striking gold on Bashboy at Ballarat racecourse last August, while he claimed Japan’s biggest jumps prize, the Nakayama Grand Jump, aboard Blackstairmountain in 2013.

Walsh is said to have to claimed 1,738 Irish successes, including 106 at Grade One level, 754 victories in Britain and six wins in France.

Bitofapuzzle is set to have her next race in Yorkshire following the abandonment of yesterday’s meeting at Ludlow.

The talented eight-year-old, who would have been hot favourite for the mares’ novice chase at the Shropshire track, is likely to reappear at Doncaster on Friday week or Wetherby on February 6.

She will be on a retrieval mission wherever she goes, as she unseated Noel Fehily at the third-last fence in a Grade Two event at Thurles last week when going well in the lead.

She could have gone to Haydock tomorrow for a novice chase, but trainer Harry Fry feels it best to wait another week before returning her to the fray.

“We might go to Doncaster next Friday or to Wetherby for the Towton,” said Fry. “It’s about trying to get experience into her.”

Reigning champion Cole Harden heads the 48 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 2014 West Yorkshire Hurdle winner provided trainer Warren Greatrex and jockey Gavin Sheehan with the biggest successes to date in their respective careers when leading from start to finish last March.

The favourite remains the Colin Tizzard-trained Thistlecrack, whose wins at Newbury and Ascot under Tom Scudamore could not have been more impressive.

Yorkshire hopes rest with Middleham trainer Simon West’s Maximiser.

York will host 10 Group races at its flagship Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival this August.

It comes after racing’s authorities upgraded the status of the Sky Bet City of York Stakes to a Grade Three contest over seven furlongs. Last year’s renewal was won by Fadhayyil for trainer Barry Hills and jockey Paul Hanagan.