Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Ruby Walsh could be in line to ride Bashboy when the horse bids for an historic third victory in the Australian Grand National on Sunday.
Trainer Ciaron Maher is preparing for a change of jockey for the prolific stayer, with regular rider Steve Pateman facing an appeal hearing against a careless riding charge on Wednesday after he received a six-race ban at Warrnambool on Saturday.
Connections have been in touch with Walsh, who has never ridden in Australia before, about taking over in the saddle.
"We have floated the idea of getting Ruby Walsh over. He is the best in the world. There is a definite chance, so I guess we'll see on Wednesday," Maher told the Herald Sun.
" He (Walsh) is certainly considering it and we'll have to see what happens to Steve."
Pateman rode Bashboy as he finished a distant second in the 'steeple trial' at the Cranbourne training complex on Tuesday in testing conditions.
Maher said, " It was just a nice, even gallop. We know he loves it (heavy) but we have to keep a bit in the tank for the race. He jumped well and pulled up well."
