Ruby Walsh has lucky escape a week ahead of Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh, the bookies' favourite to be the leading rider at next week's Cheltenham Festival, was stood down for the remainder of the afternoon on Wednesday after suffering a cut to his eye in a heavy fall at Naas. Walsh, who returned to race-riding only five days ago after suffering a broken leg in a fall in November, was challenging for the lead in a race for maiden hurdlers when he crashed out at the final flight. His own mount, King Of The Refs, then brought down the following runner, Boro Bee, which landed on top of Walsh. Paul Townend, the jockey of Boro Bee, emerged unscathed, as did the two horses, but Walsh suffered a cut to his eye and was escorted to the track ambulance. The cut was subsequently stitched, and Walsh was stood down from his final ride on the card. Walsh is next booked to ride at Sandown on Saturday, when he would need to pass the doctor, though Paul Nicholls, his principal employer in the UK, also has entries at the same track the previous day. Walsh has yet to ride a winner in eight attempts since returning from injury at Newbury on 4 March. He is top-priced at 6-4 to be the leading jockey at Cheltenham next week, when his rides are likely to include Master Minded, in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Kauto Star in the Gold Cup.