Walsh returns to Ireland as Jacob steps up as new No 1 for Nicholls

Walsh, 34, has blamed the demands of commuting across the Irish Sea for a decision that is likely to deny Yorkshire race-goers the chance of repeating last year’s Charlie Hall Chase win at Wetherby on the Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti.

Though the father of two young children says his decision – widely rumoured since this year’s Cheltenham Festival – will prolong his career, it also reflects the rise to prominence in Ireland of the jockey’s principle trainer Willie Mullins, who has acquired an abundance of top-class hurdlers and chasers.

The rise of Mullins has coincided with a slight dip in the fortunes of Nicholls, who has not trained a steeplechase winner at the National Hunt Festival since Kauto Star – and that man Walsh – won a second Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2009.

The decision means Daryl Jacob, who won the 2012 Grand National on Neptune Collonges, is the new No 1 rider at the Nicholls yard. A second jockey, possibly in-form Nick Scholfield, is likely to be appointed.

“Being stable jockey there enabled me to ride in, and win, the biggest races in our sport, so walking away from my position as stable jockey was never going to be easy,” explained Walsh, who also rode legendary hurdler Big Buck’s to most of the horse’s record-breaking 18 consecutive victories. “However, I felt towards the end of last season that the travelling was starting to take its toll – my family and I were like passing ships in the night.”

n Unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach will face a maximum of 14 opponents in Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom, even though Jim Bolger’s colt has stamina questions.

The size of the final field is likely to depend on the number of runners that top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien chooses to saddle. The Ballydoyle maestro still has six runners entered in the blue riband race, including Magician, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.

Yorkshire hopes rest with Dante winner Libertarian, who is trained at Leyburn by Karl and Elaine Burke as the latter bids to become the first female trainer to win the iconic race.

Mirsaale could be a first runner in the race for young Newmarket trainer James Tate, whose parents Tom and Hazel run a successful yard at Tadcaster. Tate junior was previously a vet at Mark Johnston’s Middleham stables.