Champion jockey Ruby Walsh hopes to be back in action in time for the major Christmas meetings after suffering a dislocated right shoulder in a fall at Navan yesterday.

Walsh was taken to the nearby Navan hospital after injuring his right shoulder in a fall from McGruders Cross at the fourth last fence of the Leinster Petroleum Beginners Chase.

There were initial fears that the shoulder might have been fractured but x-rays indicated that was not the case.

However, Walsh admitted last night that he faces "a few weeks" on the sidelines due to the injury and that he is looking towards the Christmas holiday period as a possible return date.

A clearer picture will emerge tomorrow when the rider is hoping to visit his own consultant specialist.

The injury brings to a halt a recent hot streak of success for Walsh who is clear at the top of the Irish jockeys table again and has also been in fine form for the Paul Nicholls stable in Britain.