Ruby not ready for Auteuil

RUBY WALSH won’t return to race-riding for the Grade 1 action in Auteuil this weekend, but feels he should be passed fit to resume soon.

Walsh has been out of action since breaking his leg, for the second time in less than six months, when Al Boum Photo fell at Cheltenham in March.

His understudy at Closutton Paul Townend is serving his 21-day ban imposed after the Al Boum Photo fiasco at Punchestown but, because there is no National Hunt action in Ireland on Saturday, he’s free to ride at Auteuil, when Willie Mullins will be represented by Mr Adjudicator, Msassa and Saglawy in the French 4-Y-0 Champion Hurdle.

On Sunday, Mullins will run Coquin Mans, Yorkhill, Killultagh Vic and Bapaume in the French Champion Hurdle while Djakadam is on target for the Grand Steeple-chase de Paris. And Mullins will also run Polidam in an amateur riders’ handicap chase.

While Townend will be part of Mullins’ plans for Saturday, with David and Danny Mullins also in the picture, he intends using French riders for two of his Champion Hurdle runners.