Russell gets all-clear

DAVY RUSSELL could make his return from injury at Ayr tomorrow before beginning the task of trying to overhaul his big rival Ruby Walsh in the race for the Irish jump jockeys' championship.

Russell is now four winners behind Walsh (125-121) in the title race which will end at Punchestown on Saturday week. Crucially, though, he has got the all-clear to resume riding after recovering from a wrist injury.

It is nine days since Russell damaged ligaments in his wrist in a fall at Fairyhouse, during which time Walsh has been in a purple patch of form that has taken him to within touching distance of another championship.

Russell is chasing his first championship and after leading the table for much of the 2007-'08 season he is preparing for a final effort to be in front when it counts. He intends to begin the chase at Cork on Saturday but could warm up with a trip to Scotland tomorrow.

"There's a chance I might go to Ayr but the main thing is that the wrist has healed well and I can ride at Cork," said Russell, who has kept himself busy while Walsh has made the most of his absence.

"Ruby has had plenty of winners and that's just the way it goes. There's no other way to look at it," Russell added.

"Ruby isn't going to stop riding winners either which means I'm going to have to ride twice as many. That'll be very hard."

The five days of Punchestown will be crucial in the race that has been an intriguing element to the final stages of the jumps season and Russell is putting the finishing touches to his book of rides at the festival.

"There are obvious ones like Mossbank (Guinness Gold Cup) but the main thing is so stay clear of any more injuries," he said.

Mossbank is likely to be joined in the Guinness Gold Cup by his illustrious stable companion, Beef Or Salmon, who will be having the final race of his career.

A visit to Michael Hourigan's Co Limerick yard is among the items featured in a special one-hour festival preview programme to be aired on TV3 at 11.40 tomorrow night. An item on the Punchestown banks specialist Enda Bolger will also be included.

This year will be the first five-day festival at Punchestown which features 11 Grade One races and over

3 million in prize-money.