Bad time of year again for Walsh

RUBY Walsh faces months on the sidelines after suffering a double leg fracture an hour after guiding double Gold Cup-winner, Kauto Star, to a hard-fought comeback win at Down Royal.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Nov 2010, 09:20 BST

Updated 8th Nov 2010, 09:20 BST

November is unlucky for Walsh. It is the third time in four years that he has been seriously injured in this month – and champion trainer Paul Nicholls is left without an obvious jockey for a string of big races.

They include Boxing Day's King George Chase where Kauto will try to win the race for a fifth successive year.

Third at Kelso, Ferdy Murphy's stable star Kalahari King is likely to improve for the run. Next month's Peterborough Chase remains the target. His recently-acquired Grand National fourth, Big Fella Thanks, reappears at Carlisle today.

Eighth in York's Ebor, Dangerous Midge was an unexpected Breeders' Cup Turf win for Frankie Dettori.

French heroine Goldikova won at the meeting for a third successive year while American hero Zenyatta lost for the first time in 20 starts after being left too much ground to make up.

Paul Nicholls