Walsh on standby to ride Jezki

Mark Walsh has been lined up to ride Jezki in Sunday’s StanJames.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in the event Barry Geraghty is unavailable.

With owner JP McManus’ retained rider Tony McCoy sidelined by injury, Geraghty is the obvious choice to partner the Jessica Harrington-trained six-year-old, having steered him to glory in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

However, it emerged on Monday that Geraghty could be required by Nicky Henderson to ride at Cheltenham on Sunday and Walsh, who rides the majority of McManus’ Irish-based horses, will be on board if that is the case.