Mark Walsh on course for weekend return

Jockey Mark Walsh is on course for a return to race-riding this weekend, ahead of next week's Cheltenham festival where his high-profile rides include Minella Indo in the Gold Cup.

Initially injured, hurting ribs, in a Christmas fall at Leopardstown he subsequently injured his back in a fall at that same racecourse during last month's Dublin Racing Festival.

The Champion Hurdle-winning jockey has recently been handed the ride on former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo in next week's showpiece race and his agent Garry Cribbin today had positive news when speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast.

Cribbin said “Mark is back riding out and everything is going well. Fingers crossed he’ll get to Cheltenham.”

“He feels good and everything is going in the right direction. Hopefully if everything goes well he’ll be riding this weekend.”