Walsh won’t need surgery on broken leg

● Jockey injured in Punchestown fall

Ruby Walsh remains in hospital but does not require surgery on a broken leg he sustained from a fall at Punchestown on Saturday.

The top jumps jockey suffered the injury aboard Let’s Dance at the fourth-last flight of the Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle.

Walsh, who had two falls earlier on the card, was attended to on the track before being taken to hospital in Naas for X-rays. He was then transferred to Tallaght Hospital in Dublin.

Turf Club chief medical officer Dr Adrian Mcgoldrick said: “The leg doesn’t require surgery, which is very reassuring. It’s in a plaster cast. It’s too early to say how long he’ll be out for. He’ll have X-rays again in a week’s time and we’ll see what’s what.

“We just have to be guided by his consultants.”

At Punchestow yesterday, Faugheen made an impressive return to action in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle.

The 2015 Champion Hurdle hero could not have been more convincing in the Grade One contest, as he made his eagerly awaited comeback after 665 days on the sidelines.

Paul Townend, deputising on Willie Mullins’ star for the injured Walsh, let Faugheen bowl along in front and once he asked him to go and put the race to bed, the 4-9 favourite fairly sprinted

0 Paul Townend and Faugheen after their Punchestown win. clear. Townend said: “He was deadly, unbelievable – he looks as good as ever.

“I wanted to keep it simple, I thought I was on the best horse and the best way to get him beat was to complicate it. He’s the real deal.”

Faugheen was immediately cut to 5-2 favourite from 5-1 for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March by Paddy Power.