RACING:  Ruby Walsh returns to action at Fairyhouse this afternoon with two hurdle race rides.

The former champion jockey fractured his right hip on the first day of the Listowel Festival in September when taking a fall from the Joe Crowley-trained Caishill in a novice chase.

Walsh was on the 45-winner mark for the current term at the time and will be keen to start bridging the gap to the current table topper Barry Geraghty who is 20 ahead.

Walsh is on Celtic Grian Ard in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle but his best shot could come on the Michael O'Brien-trained Thaix in the Clover Hill Hurdle. O'Brien also rus Wotsitooya who was such an unlucky loser in the Muster National farce at Limerick but yesterday's rain will not have helped that one's chance. The 128-rated Florida Coast is another to consider.

Golfeur's last start over fences was behind Youlneverwalkalone at Navan but the Gowran hurdle winner could be the one to edge out Saddler's Mark in the beginners chase.

Paul Carberry can score on Fable in the handicap chase and will also fancy his chances on the former Derby runner Louisville in the four-year-old maiden hurlde. Jumping was a problem for Louisville last term and in the circumstances it may pay to take the safer option of Shauna's Vision, runner up to Statim at Listowel.

The JP McManus-owned newcomer Dooley is one to examine in the bumper where John Kiely's contender Khyber Pass is another to keep an eye on in the market.

Clonmel are to stage a replacement fixture on Sunday, December 7th, Horse Racing Ireland announced yesterday.

HRI have also decided to switch fixture dates to allow next year's Group One Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes be run at the Curragh.

Leopardstown, originally due to race on August 8th, has switched with the Curragh's August 15th date in order for the Group One to be run at Headquarters.

Other alterations to the 2004 fixture list announced yesterday include an additional fixture at Down Royal on September 12th to facilitate the start of Sunday racing, with on-course betting, in Northern Ireland.

The Kilbeggan fixture originally set for August 9th will now be run on August 6th while the famous Laytown strand meeting will now be run on September 9th rather than August 27th.

Down Royal chairman Jim Nicholson said: "We are delighted but not surprised to receive this fixture. We have major plans for racing on Sundays and we would hope our Northern Ireland Festival, which ended last weekend, will have a Sunday date in 2005."