Walsh Cleared to Ride at Cheltenham on Friday

Ruby Walsh, whose spleen was removed after a fall at Cheltenham less than four weeks ago, will return to the saddle at the same track on Friday, when he is expected to ride Mahonia for Paul Nicholls in a novice hurdle.

Walsh, 29, who was passed fit to resume riding by a doctor today, will also be in action at Cheltenham on Saturday and in Ireland the following day.

"He's going straight back to the scene of the crime," Jennifer Walsh, the jockey's sister and agent, said. "He'll ride Mahonia for Paul on Friday, that will be his only ride and it will mean that he can ease himself back into it. Then he'll be riding for Paul again on Saturday, and on Sunday he will be in Ireland to ride whatever Willie Mullins wants him for.

"The original estimate of how long it would take for him to get back was three to six weeks, and in the end it has turned out to be just under four."

Walsh's absence after a fall in a hurdle race seemed, temporarily at least, to upset the normal, smooth operation of the Paul Nicholls yard. Sam Thomas, who had replaced Walsh with great success at a similar stage of last season, endured a series of defeats on high-profile horses, including Kauto Star, the former Gold Cup winner.

Nicholls, along with Kauto Star's owner, Clive Smith, decided to replace Thomas on the champion two-mile chaser, Master Minded, who won the Tingle Creek Chase for Tony McCoy last weekend.

Thomas has since enjoyed a high-profile success for Nicholls when winning yesterday's John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown, but the champion trainer will be hugely relieved to get his No1 rider back in the saddle in time for the busy Christmas program.