Ruby Walsh has been ruled out of tomorrow's Grand National at Aintree after suffering a hairline fracture to his wrist.
The Kildare native was scheduled to ride Sir Des Champs but has been forced to pull out of the big one after falling on Blood Cotil this afternoon.
Walsh subsequently couldn't take up his mount on Battleford in today's final bumper, having also missed out on the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle earlier this afternoon, where he was meant to ride Bellshill.
Taking to Twitter, Willie Mullins confirmed that Nina Carberry will now ride Sir Des Champs in Walsh's stead, with Paul Townend taking over on both Yorkhill and Douvan.
Unfortunately Ruby does not ride tomorrow. @ninacarberry will ride #SirDesChamps & @PTownend will ride #Yorkhill & #Douvan
— Willie Mullins (@WillieMullinsNH) April 8, 2016
Sir Des Champs' odds have now lengthened with various bookmakers following the two-time National winner's late withdrawal. The 2013 Gold Cup runner-up was initially a 40-1 chance before the field was finalised on Thursday, but his odds had halved when the 36-year-old Walsh was confirmed as jockey.
Carberry is Walsh's sister-in-law, and first rode in the National back in 2006. Her inclusion means there will now be two female jockeys involved in tomorrow's big race, as Walsh's sister Katie rides on the 66/1 Ballycasey - also trained by Mullins.
