Relieved Ruby to return tomorrow
Ireland’s top jump jockey had a nasty scare just days before the start of the Cheltenham Festival when taking a tumble from King Of The Refs at the final flight in the Tote Jackpot Maiden Hurdle.
He only returned to action last Friday after being sidelined for four months with a broken leg and has yet to ride a winner since.
His planned rides at Sandown tomorrow include Tito Bustillo in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup.
Walsh said: “I’m a little sore this morning following my fall at Naas yesterday, but it could have been a lot worse.
“Everyone told me it looked very nasty and feared I could be in trouble again, but thankfully it was just a gash to my right eye, which required two stitches. Taking a fall is all part of being a jumps jockey, it comes with the territory.
“I’ve had a lot of good wishes and inquiries following the fall, which I’m grateful for, and I’ve been told I deserve a change of luck, but people are a lot worse off than I am, that’s for sure, and besides it’s not serious and I’ll be back at Sandown on Saturday.
“I read somewhere that I might be tempted to wait now until the start of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, but you can’t start picking and choosing your rides in an effort to avoid any possible falls or injury.
“You just can’t think like that as a jockey,” he told his blog on www.racinguk.com
Walsh will have his usual big book of rides at Cheltenham, with Irish trainer Willie Mullins and Ditcheat handler Paul Nicholls providing him with most ammunition.
They include Master Minded in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase, Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and Kauto Star in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
