Business as usual as Walsh counts down the hours

RUBY Walsh is “counting down the hours” to Newbury’s meeting this weekend as he prepares to return from a four-month injury lay-off.

The rider has been sidelined since breaking his leg in a fall at Down Royal in early November, missing plenty of big-race winners for retained trainers Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins in that period.

Walsh returned to the public arena on Sunday when riding in the traditional Cheltenham schooling session after racing at Leopardstown, but he will be back under Rules at Newbury on Friday.