Ruby Walsh could be in line to renew his partnership with Florida Pearl at Down Royal on Saturday week.
Walsh has been out of action since he fractured his wrist in a fall at Cork last month.
But now he has an extra week to get fit in order to ride Willie Mullins` star chaser in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase.
The race was due to be run this Saturday but the two-day fixture at the Northern Ireland track has been postponed by a week as parts of the course are flooded.
'There`s been no time set on his return as yet, but he`s having his wrist checked out at towards the end of the week,' said a spokeswoman at the stables of Ruby`s father Ted today.
Paul Carberry, who deputised for Walsh on the Tote Gold Cup runner-up last season, is also sidelined with a fractured lower left leg.
Norman Williamson had been booked to partner Florida Pearl at Down Royal had the race gone ahead this weekend.
Williamson said: 'At the moment I don`t really know what is happening but come next week there`s every chance that Ruby will be back and if that`s the case he will ride Florida Pearl.'
Mullins said: 'If Ruby`s back, he`ll ride. I imagine that Norman will have his own plans. Everything`s up in the air at the moment.'
Mullins also reported that Tryphaena, fourth in the Tote Cesarewitch, is unlikely to cross the Irish Sea for the Direct Answers Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday as she has an alternative engagement on the Flat at Leopardstown.
'She`ll probably run in the November Handicap at Leopardstown on Sunday and then in a #50,000 handicap hurdle at Down Royal the following Friday,' he added.
