JP McManus retained rider Mark Walsh faces a nervous wait over his fitness ahead of the Cheltenham festival.
The 36-year-old only returned to the saddle on Saturday after a rough festive period which saw him suffer several heavy falls, although he did ride a Grade One winner on Saint Roi. His rides at Leopardstown at the weekend were his first of 2023 and he rode Perceval Legallois to victory in a big handicap hurdle.
However, on his first ride of day two of the festival, he fell at the fifth in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle and Walsh was taken immediately to hospital.
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This fall could leave him sidelined for between three and four weeks. If he is out for four weeks, then that would leave him just days to prepare for the Cheltenham festival which begins on March 14th.
“He’s going to be off for at least another three or four weeks,” said McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.
“He’s seeing his surgeon in a fortnight and then he’ll know more. He’s out of hospital now at least.
“He’s done some damage to vertebrae, but he’s home and he’s in good form. He’ll know more after he’s seen his surgeon.”
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