Paddy Power Racing Ambassador Ruby Walsh is bullish about returning to the saddle in the coming weeks after confirming he has been forced to side-step the 2018 Punchestown Festival.
The Kildare-man revealed this afternoon that he has been ruled out of riding at his local showpiece – an event he had set in his sights to be back in time for following a heavy fall from Al Boum Photo in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
He had only returned to competitive action the previous Thursday, having broken the same leg at Punchestown in November. But speaking to us in Paddy Power News, he said: “My surgeon was happy with the progress my leg is making and how it’s healing but he wasn’t happy enough to let me ride next week.
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“Such is life, there’s not a whole lot I can do about it.
“I hoped to be back in time for Punchestown, but it’s just come a couple of weeks too soon. I had hoped my leg would be better than it is by now.
“But, you can be bloody sure I’ll be doing all I can to get back in the new season as early as possible. I don’t want to be giving Davy Russell too much of a head start!”
“It hasn’t come as a surprise. I could have guessed what I was going to be told because I knew from walking on it. My surgeon wasn’t happy so I have to do what I’m told at some stage in my life,” said Ruby.
Get well soon pal!
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