Casey won the Irish Hennessy on Rule Supreme in February
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Ruby Walsh is to ride Hedgehunter in next Saturday's Grand National after regular partner David Casey was taken to hospital following a fall.
Casey is set for a long spell on the sidelines with a fractured bone in his neck and dislocated hip after the fall at Fairyhouse.
It comes weeks after he returned from being out with a broken left leg.
Turf Club medical officer Doctor Walter Halley said: "Recovery will take a little while, but he is in no danger."
Walsh was available for the plum spare ride after the Paul Nicholls-trained Welsh National winner Silver Birch was ruled out of Aintree.
And it appears he was lined up to take the mount of Hedgehunter before Casey was injured.
Casey was taken to hospital in Dublin with a hip injury after his tumble from Emotional Article in the Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle.
He only returned to action in early February following nearly three months out after breaking his left leg.
The jockey made a glorious comeback within days when winning the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Rule Supreme for Willie Mullins.
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WALSH: NATIONAL TREASURE
2000: Won National at Aintree on Papillon, trained by dad Ted
Also: 4th, Papillon 2001, 4th Kingsmark 2002
Dec 2004: Won Welsh National on Silver Birch
Mar 2005: Won Irish National on Numbersixvalverde
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Casey rode Hedgehunter when he was among the front runners before falling at the last in the 2004 Grand National, won by Amberleigh House.
The Irish horse is third favourite in most bookmakers' lists this time, behind last year's winner and the runner-up Clan Royal.
Explaining the jockey switch, trainer Willie Mullins told the Racing Post: "Ruby is my stable jockey in Ireland and rides for Paul Nicholls in England.
"It is absolutely no reflection on David who is a top-class jockey. He will continue to ride on a regular basis for me but Ruby is my number one."
Other latest confirmed Grand National jockey bookings include:
Clan Royal - Tony McCoyInnox - Robert ThorntonRoyal Auclair - Christian Williams
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