There can be few tougher sports than horse racing. Even at the highest level jockeys have to be prepared to take a fall at up to 35 mph as often as one ride in ten. On Saturday at Down Royal top jockey Ruby Walsh yet again learned how dangerous the game can be.
A day that had started off in perfect fashion for Paul Nicholls' stable jockey when he partnered the great Kauto Star to victory in a Grade 1 chase turned nasty when Walsh took a sickening fall from Corrick Bridge in the early stages of a 2m 6f handicap chase that left him with a double fracture of his right leg. He required immediate surgery and will be left to watch on from the sidelines for up to 12 weeks during a critical stage of the National Hunt season. No doubt all involved in Irish racing will be sympathetic towards the great jockey.
There has already been a frenzy of media activity with pundits puzzling over who will step in for the rides on the Nicholls superstars Kauto Star and Denman, as well as other high-class performers in the care of the Ditcheat handler. It has already been confirmed that Sam Thomas will get the leg up on Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury at the end of the month, while the general opinion seems to be that Tony McCoy is odds-on to partner Kauto Star in his bid to land an astounding fifth successive King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. It will be interesting to see if the change in rider impacts on the betting tips for the race.
Walsh's absence will doubtless give a chance to other jockeys associated with Nicholls, such as Nick Scholfield and Harry Skelton to shine, but all will appreciate, that Walsh will number one for the champion trainer by the end of January.
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