Nicholls without Walsh for Sandown

Paul Nicholls will be without the services of Ruby Walsh at Sandown on Saturday.

The 26-year-old was stood down for the remainder of the New Year’s Day card at Cheltenham after a nasty-looking fall from Sporazene, his second heavy tumble of the day after an earlier spill on Le Duc.

Walsh was hoping to return to action by the weekend to ride for the Ditcheat handler at the Esher track, but the Irish jockey is now likely to be deputised by Christian Williams.

Nicholls told Teletext: “He told me today he was still a bit sore and I half-thought that would be the case.

“He understandably just wants to get himself right and be back to full fitness next week. Christian Williams will probably be on the ones at Sandown now – and he is an able deputy.”