Walsh suffers nasty fall but should be fine for Cheltenham

RACING:RUBY WALSH was back in the wars just days before the Cheltenham Festival when suffering a nasty final-flight fall at Naas yesterday. However, the jockey is unlikely to miss next week's action after an injury-riddled season.

The jockey suffered a cut under his right eye which required stitching following the tumble from King Of The Refs in the Tote Jackpot Maiden Hurdle.

The contest eventually went to 33 to 1 shot First Impressions for trainer Michael Mulvany and 7lb claimer Tim Carroll.

Walsh only returned to action last Friday after being sidelined for four months with a broken leg.

The latest injury comes close to the much-anticipated festival where Walsh has a powerful book of rides mainly for trainers Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls.

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.

Walsh became the most successful jockey in Cheltenham Festival history, breaking Pat Taaffe’s record of 25 wins, when successful aboard Sanctuaire (Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle) in 2010. Winner number 27 followed on Big Buck’s in the Ladbroke World Hurdle (2010).

Walsh’s father, Ted, said: “He’s got a cut, nothing serious.”

Walsh was stood down for the rest of the day and so had to give up his only other ride, Forty Foot, in the Tote Daily Double Handicap Hurdle for Charlie Swan.

Paul Townend was brought down on Boro Bee at the same obstacle but immediately walked away from the fall.

Walsh’s only ride at Clonmel today (Royal Reveille) is a doubtful runner, but he is expected to be back race-riding in Britain tomorrow. The jockey is down to ride for Paul Nicholls and has two booked rides at Sandown on Saturday, Mon Parrain and Tito Bustillo for the champion trainer.

He is yet to ride a winner since returning to the saddle last week, following a double fracture to his right leg from a fall at Down Royal last November.

Co Antrim-based trainer Harry Smyth recorded his first winner for almost seven years when cast-off Cantrell landed the Hen and Stag Parties at Naas Handicap Hurdle under 7lb conditional Mattie Bowes.

Jockey Seán Flanagan had his first winner since August and just his third of the season on Gamede in the Naas Racecourse on Facebook Maiden Hurdle.