Cheltenham Festival injury woe for Mark Walsh

Jockey Mark Walsh faces six weeks on the sidelines after he fractured his left leg in a fall in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday.Walsh was partnering Consul De Thaix in the Neptune Investment ManagementNovices' Hurdle when the horse sustained a fatal fall at the sixth-last flight. Consul De Thaix is trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by JP McManus, for whomWalsh is a retained jockey. Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club senior medical officer, said:"I've spoken to Mark this morning. "He has concussion and is stood down for six days, but he also has a fractured left fibula so he's going to be out for six weeks with that. "He's very alert and slept very well last night, which is good."He's in a plaster cast and arrangements will be made as soon as possible to get him home."