Walsh to ride Cooldine in Royal & Sun Alliance

Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride Cooldine in the Royal & Sun Alliance Novice Chase at Cheltenham next month in preference to Paul Nicholls' What A Friend.

Walsh was on board Cooldine when the Willie Mullins trained gelding won the Grade 1 Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown recentlybut has not ridden Nicholls' What A Friend in public since December 2007.

Liam Heard rode the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned six-year-old in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham last year but stable number two Sam Thomas has ridden him on both his starts over fences and will retain the partnership in the RSA Chase.

"We sat down and talked about it and Ruby said he wanted to ride Cooldine. That's fine, as Sam has won on WhatA Friend twice already," explained Nicholls at the Exeter racecourse Cheltenham preview night on Thursday.