Ruby facing long layoff after suffering fall in Killarney
He crushed and tore a ligament in a vertebrae in his neck and is expected to be on the easy-list until Listowel, at the earliest, in September.
Walsh’s mount, Friendly Society, fell at the first flight, but he was up reasonably quickly and able to walk back to the weigh room.
Indeed, on his return, he indicated that he was “okay”. Yesterday, however, his sister and agent, Jennifer, said: “Ruby was very sore last night and again this morning. He went to the Cork University Hospital and was diagnosed with those neck injuries. We are hoping he will be back in time for Listowel.’’
The eight-times champion jockey has had a dreadful time with injuries over the last couple of seasons.
At Aintree last year, in a fall off Celestial Halo, also over hurdles, he broke his arm in three places.
Then at the big James Nicholson meeting at Down Royal on November 6, he smashed his leg when taking a crashing fall aboard Corrick Bridge in a chase.
Walsh didn’t return to action until March 4, just in time for Cheltenham.
He then, of course, went on to be the leading jockey at the festival with five winners, headed by Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle and Big Buck’s in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
