Injury-hit Ruby Walsh returns to action at Limerick on Sunday

Gordon Elliott-trained Rogue Angel chasing another ‘National’ under Jack Kennedy

Ruby Walsh has endured a fearful run of injuries over the past 11 months, and makes his latest return at Limerick on Sunday.

The legendary jockey broke his leg just less than a year ago, memorably making it back in time for Cheltenham only to break it again at the festival.

After a Galway festival comeback, Walsh then took a heavy fall at Killarney towards the end of August.

“I had a lot of bruising to my ribs and vertebrae in my back and was in a brace for a couple of weeks,” the 39-year-old reported on Friday. “It didn’t come off until last week so it took me a couple of days to get back riding out.”

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On a day when his young rival Jack Kennedy also returns to action, Walsh will ride in two hurdle races, with Good Thyne Tara in particular appearing to be a leading contender for the Listed Mares Hurdle.

However, Kennedy could be the one to land the featured €100,000 JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National on Rogue Angel.

A former winner of the Irish National and the Kerry National, Rogue Angel is one of a handful of Gordon Elliott-trained runners and can be fancied to add to his “National” collection.

JP McManus runs three in the big, including the Elliott-trained Timiyan, although the owner’s best chance at his local track could come from The Gatechecker who is extending to three miles for a handicap hurdle.

At Navan on Sunday Lost Treasure will test out his new 112 rating in the Waterford Testimonial Stakes.

Lost Treasure belied 100-1 odds in last Sunday’s Prix de l’Abbaye and was beaten by less than a length despite blowing the start and meeting interference in the closing stages.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column