Injured Ruby Walsh optimistic about recovering in time for Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh is confident he will be fit to ride at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The jockey's season was derailed on Saturday when he sustained a broken leg in a fall from Let's Dance at Punchestown.

Walsh's leg does not require an operation, though, and he told Racing UK: "Hopefully it will heal quickly. A broken leg is usually 12 weeks, give or take - (there is) 16 weeks and three days from the fall to the Cheltenham Festival. I have 15 and a half (weeks), or 15 and three-quarters to be ready."

He added: "I don't think it matters how much experience you have. You can only do what the doctors tell you and be as patient as you can."

The first big ride Walsh missed was on comeback king Faugheen, who impressed on his return after 22 months off the track in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in the hands of Paul Townend.