CHAMPION JOCKEY RUBY Walsh is back riding work with his expected return from injury running nicely to plan.
The Kildare native has been out of action since November with a broken leg, which he sustained after a fall from Willie Mullins’ Let’s Dance at Punchestown.
Days after, Walsh shared his intentions to be back in time to ride at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, which kicks off on 13 March.
“A broken leg is usually 12 weeks [to heal], give or take,” he told Racing UK at the time.
“It’s 16 weeks and three days from the fall to the Cheltenham, so I have 15-and-a-half weeks or 15-and-three-quarters to be ready. You have to do as the doctors say and be as patient as you can.
“The physical pain goes away but the mental pain stays with you until you are back.”
And he has now confirmed to the same source that he remains on course for a Cheltenham comeback.
“I’ve been riding a couple of horses each day,” he told Racing UK.
“I started that on Sunday when I rode out one at home so it’s tipping along and hopefully it keeps going the way it’s going. It feels good. I’ll just take it slowly slowly, try not to do any damage and we’ll see how we go.
“There’s a buzz about the yard, things are just about to start cranking up. The horses are in good form and hopefully it keeps going that way.”
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The most ridiculous “sport” going. The only one I know that is completely dependent on gambling, it would be dead in the morning without it.
@The Irish Pain: how is it dependent on gambling
@Domhnall McMahon: There would be ZERO public interest without gambling in horse racing. Racing channel is gambling funded, punters only go to tracks to gamble, most of the races are sponsored by betting companies. If there was no gambling there would be no racing.
Also horse racing Ireland receives outrageous yearly grants from the government, and we all know why…
@Domhnall McMahon: A figure to get your head around…the government gave Horse Racing Ireland €64 million in 2017. Compare this with what Sport Ireland received – approx. €20 mill. Sport Ireland funds nearly ALL sports outside of the big 3 (GAA, rugby and soccer). This covers all Olympic athletes, programmes, staff, etc, etc.
@The Irish Pain: What’s your point might not be for everyone?i enjoy watching race without having a bet!if you don’t like it fair enough but no point in calling it ridiculous?its easily enjoyed by many across the country
@Lefty: Not denying some enjoy it, but there is no doubt it would be effectively dead in the morning without gambling. That’s why I think it’s a ridiculous sport. Remove gambling from any other sport and they would easily sustain.
@The Irish Pain: 100% spot on.
The Irish Pain: Why does it matter if it’s reliant on gambling or not? Many of those that have a bet on horses would still watch racing and follow racing even if you couldn’t bet on it. The majority of race goers and those who have a bet from home would still watch racing and go to the races even if they couldn’t have a bet on it.
It’s ludicrous to suggest that there would be zero public interest in racing without gambling, it’s simply untrue. Also it is crazy to suggest that the only reason people go racing is to gamble.
There is a whole other aspect to racing, if that was the only reason why would they spend money on a ticket, transport, drink etc when they could just go down to the local bookies and place their bets there.
Maybe you should go racing sometime, see for yourself.
@james heffernan: Might not be Zero but footfall and interest would decrease dramatically. That’s a fact…
@james heffernan: James you’re seriously having a laugh! Thanks for that…
@The Irish Pain: I don’t gamble and still go racing 3/4 times a month and also travelling to Cheltenham for the week so can’t see how it’s so dependent on gambling
@Cian Collins: Do you go racing with your eyes closed? What’s the % off people that go racing and have a bet with a on site bookie? Where would they be with out them? How many race meetings and races and even jockeys in the past have and are currently sponsored by bookies?? Do you think JP Macmanus got in to racing for the love of horses or the idea off pulling off a gamble or seven?
@Cian Collins: Cian you’re one in a million…literally.
@gold3n: Meydan is a massive festival of racing with the multi million Dubai World Cup ran there and you cannot gamble in the UAE!Obviously interest for racegoers there
Rather have David Mullins on board at the moment then Ruby…
What rubbish Ruby is number 1 grow up