Irish champion jockey Ruby Walsh bounced back after a five-month lay off through injury with a double on Gabby Hayes and The Next Step at Navan today.
Walsh, out of action since breaking his leg at Pardubice in October, made the breakthrough on the 3-1 favourite Gabby Hayes in the Ballinlough Maiden Hurdle, trained by his father Ted for his mother Helen.
But the rider needed all his strength to get the market leader home by a short head from Starry Night.
The Next Step made most of the running to claim the Ballivor Maiden Hurdle (Division Two), although Walsh disobeyed the instructions of trainer Willie Mullins.
"Normal transmission is resumed," said Mullins. "I said to Ruby to hold him up if he could, but when there was no pace he made the right decision to let this horse stride on and he will be a useful chaser over two miles next season.
"I was disappointed that the ground was very testing when we arrived, because The Next Step would appreciate drier going.
"But it's good to see Ruby back among the winners and I've often found that when somebody comes back from injury he's keener than ever to ride winners."
Mullins confirmed that his Cheltenham horses had arrived safely.
"All the horses travelled well according to my head girl Tracy Gilmour, although one of the bumper runners Be My Royal sweated up a bit in transit," he said.
"Adamant Approach was left behind as he has pulled a muscle and it would take a miracle for him to get to the Festival now.
"Ruby will ride Tuesday and Paul Carberry will be on BallyAmber with Jim Nash on Be My Royal. I have yet to get a jockey for my fourth bumper candidate Joe Cullen at this stage."
