Banned rider David Walsh is on the verge of making a comeback after admitting he misses "the buzz of racing", it was reported yesterday. The reigning joint British champion conditional jockey has not ridden since he received a one-month ban last May after traces of amphetamines were found in his sample in a drug test.
He had been thought likely to sit out this season but now plans to return soon, after winning a battle against weight problems.
"I will be reapplying to the Jockey Club for my licence," he told the Daily Mail.
"But before I do that I have to go on a rehabilitation course which is compulsory for drug ban riders. That won't be a problem though and it is only a one-day course.
"I hope to be able to ride around 10st 11lb. I have been riding out for Nigel TwistonDavies and Roger Curtis and I came to realise that I miss the buzz of racing."
Prior to his suspension the 23-year-old Kildareman had looked to have a bright future. He enjoyed the support of the Twiston-Davies stable, to which he had been attached since moving to Britain four years previously and also benefited from the backing of the Pipe yard.
Last March, Walsh was handed the Cheltenham Gold Cup ride on Barton Bank, apparently at the insistence of owner Jenny Mould on whose Grange Brake he gained his first big win in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow in December, 1995.
David Nicholson was reportedly less than happy at the booking, having wanted to give the mount to one of his own riders.
But his misgivings were soon allayed as Walsh had the slipshod jumper foot perfect at each of the stiff fences and inspired the gelding to his best run in years, finishing second to Mr Mulligan. He kept the ride at Aintree the following month and repaid the faith by steering him to victory in the Martell Cup Chase - the gelding's first win since 1993 and the biggest victory of Walsh's career to date.
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