Racing

Ruby Walsh could be out of action for remainder of the season

Jockey will see a specialist later this week following his nasty fall at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday

Lord Windermere (right) beats On His Own by a short head in last week’s Gold Cup and subsequently held on to the race following a stewards’ inquiry.
Lord Windermere (right) beats On His Own by a short head in last week’s Gold Cup and subsequently held on to the race following a stewards’ inquiry.
Tue Mar 18 2014 - 01:00

Ruby Walsh will see a specialist later this week to find out how long he is likely to be out of action for following his nasty fall at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday.

Walsh was leading the way aboard in Abbyssial in the JCB Triumph Hurdle when his mount came to grief at the second hurdle and plunged the rider into the turf. It was soon evident the Festival’s leading jockey had fractured his arm and it was later discovered he had also dislocated his shoulder

Walsh told Racing UK: “I’ve been worse – I’m not too bad. “I had an operation on Friday night in Gloucester to put my shoulder back into its socket. There was a fracture at the top of the arm as well.”

Asked whether he will be out for the remainder of the National Hunt season, Walsh said: “I don’t know. I would have thought so, but I’ll know more when I see the specialist later in the week. I need to wait for the swelling to go down before they can get a clearer picture.”

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Walsh is confident Hurricane Fly’s advancing years were not to blame for his disappointing effort in last week’s Stan James Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins’ record-breaking 10-year-old was aiming to secure a third victory but weakened tamely from the home turn to finish fourth behind Jezki, My Tent Or Yours and the unlucky The New One.

Asked whether age was catching up with the brilliant hurdler, Walsh said: "People are going to say that and that's the obvious answer, but I honestly don't think so. Hurricane Fly did something he has never done in the past, which was stop. Maybe I'm biased, but I'd be willing to forgive him. I'm sure if he's happy and well, he'll go on to Punchestown."

Significant reverse
The other significant reverse during the week for Walsh was that of Annie Power, who lost her unbeaten record at the hands of More Of That in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Plenty believe Annie Power did not truly stay the three-mile distance on her first attempt at the trip, but Walsh does not agree and feels the occasion may have got to the highly-regarded mare. He said: “I didn’t think there was a gelding that could give Annie Power 7lb, but on the day More Of That did and beat her well on the day.

“But I suppose going to Cheltenham you know as well as physically needing the best horse, mentally you do as well, and Annie Power’s temperament just wasn’t right for the occasion. She got too worked up and ran too keen. I never got her switched off.

"You need to conserve your energy in those kind of races and she just didn't do that. There is no doubt she stayed."

Suffered injury
Having suffered injury in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, Walsh missed the ride on the Mullins-trained On His Own in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The 10-year-old ran fantastically in the hands of David Casey, going down by just a short head to Lord Windermere in a thriller.

After a lengthy inquiry, the stewards deemed the interference suffered by On His Own at the hands of Lord Windermere had not affected the result, but Walsh is struggling to understand the logic behind the decision.

Walsh said: “Without seeing it (the replay), if someone is found guilty of careless riding and the result is a short head, it has to have improved your position. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t make sense how it hasn’t. Maybe that’s too simplistic.”