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Ruby Walsh to know more about extent of Cheltenham leg injury on Wednesday

Ruby Walsh was injured at Cheltenham Festival
Ruby Walsh: injury to be assessed on WednesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ruby Walsh will know more about the extent of the leg injury he suffered at the Cheltenham Festival when he goes for an assessment next week.

Walsh aggravated the tibia fracture he had just returned from in a fall from Al Boum Photo in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday, and was forced to watch the rest of the meeting from the sidelines.

Speaking to Nick Luck on Racing UK on Sunday, Walsh said: "I'm not too bad. It's [the leg] in plaster of Paris and I'll know more on Wednesday as to how much or how little damage I've done. Hopefully it won't be too long but there's always a chance it could take a while but I will know more next week."

Before injury struck, Walsh rode two winners at the festival, and reflecting on Footpad's dominant win in the Arkle, he added: "How high he can go, nobody knows.

"Some people are talking of him as a stayer and others as a speed horse. On his pedigree two miles should be his trip but he did win over two and a half miles at Auteuil so stamina shouldn't be an issue either.

Ruby’s back: after months on the sidelines following a broken leg, Ruby Walsh scores in the festival’s second race as odds-on favourite Footpad lands the Arkle Novices’ Chase
Ruby’s back: after months on the sidelines following a broken leg, Ruby Walsh scores in the festival’s second race as odds-on favourite Footpad lands the ArkleCredit: Patrick McCann
"He has a good cruising speed and a turn of foot and has a lot of things going for him. Wherever he goes next year he's going to have to step up as he'll be taking on Altior and Douvan or Might Bite and Native River."

Walsh returned to the meeting to take in the action on Thursday and Friday before returning home, and his boss Willie Mullins sent out seven winners over the course of the four days.

Laurina's dominant performance in the mares' novice hurdle left the impression she could be a potential superstar, and Walsh thinks she has a lot of talent.

"We knew she was fairly good and the way the race was run suited her," he said. "She won a long way and the New course is quite a stamina track which would play to her strengths. She's a fine robust filly who looks more like a gelding than a filly. She's very exciting going forward."


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