Ruby Walsh backs Jack Kennedy to recover and fight for jockeys' title

Ruby Walsh is confident that Jack Kennedy can return and challenge for the jockeys' championship once the 23-year-old recovers from another broken bone.

The Dingle native his out in the lead with 77 National Hunt wins on the board already this season but is facing a lengthy spell out of action after he suffered a fracture of his lower leg in a fall at Naas on Sunday.

It is the fifth leg break of Kennedy's young career but 12-time champion Walsh, who also suffered five broken legs, said: "When you're lying on the stretcher getting carted into the ambulance, the pain in his leg is not going through his head. It's the mental pain of what you’re going to miss. 'How long is this going to be? Why did it happen to me again?'.

"He’s 18 winners in front of Paul Townend in the jockey’s championship, he was probably going to be champion jockey for the first time in his career.

"Cheltenham was on the horizon, he had a lot of big rides there. Gordon Elliott has a huge team of horses and he’s the No 1 jockey to him. And he will be when he comes back.

"I’m sure by today he’s already thinking ‘Is there any chance that make that miracle recovery and be back in nine weeks’ time for the Cheltenham festival. Knowing Jack Kennedy and his desire he will be trying his best to do that.

"More realistically can he get back early in April? At that stage Paul most likely will have got level, maybe one or two by him. Can he chase him and still be champion jockey?

"He’s probably looking for some sort of hope because at the end of the day, all sports people are dreamers."

"When you break your leg for the fifth time - that I do know - it's not the physical pain of the bone breaking, it's the mental pain of what you're going to miss" - @Ruby_Walsh speaks on