RUBY’S HORROR FALL

THIS was the dramatic moment when Cheltenham held its breath for Festival legend Ruby Walsh. In startling scenes, Walsh’s father Ted and sister Katie rushed to his side after his mount Al Boum Photo fell at the secondlast fence of yesterday’s RSA Chase and rolled on him. Witnesses at the fence said Walsh screamed in pain. He was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for X-rays. His Festival is over for this year but initial fears the 38-year-old might have badly broken the right leg he fractured in November again were dispelled. His agent and sister Jennifer issued a statement saying: ‘Unfortunately he has aggravated a recent leg injury and will see his consultant in Dublin next week for further assessment.’ But remarkably trainer Willie Mullins, who earlier had said Walsh was in ‘fierce pain’, suggested the jockey could be back as early as next month for the Punchestown Festival, which starts on April 24. Mullins said: ‘The information I have is that he has a stress fracture on the old break. ‘He might need a cast for maybe three weeks or a month and then he could be back. ‘Instead of being back for Galway (in August), he could be back for Punchestown. That would be a fantastic result.’ After Walsh’s sister Katie landed the concluding Champion Bumper on Relegate, she was close to tears and said: ‘My heart is torn a bit. I really appreciate days like these — they are fantastic. ‘But in the back of my mind is Ruby. It’s not as bad as it first seemed and he will be back. It could be an awful lot worse.’ Al Boum Photo was unhurt.