Davy Russell set for Cork return after lung injury at Cheltenham

Irish jockey Davy Russell is set to return at Cork racecourse on Thursday - six days after a punctured lung ruled him out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

He missed the ride on Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs, with champion jockey AP McCoy coming in as substitute.

Russell, 33, returned home on Monday after being released from Cheltenham General Hospital and has been given the all-clear by doctors to ride again.

"Just spoke with doctors. Got the all clear, so back tomorrow," he tweeted.

He is in a battle with Ruby Walsh to defend his Irish champion jockey title for 2012-13.

Russell will have big rides at major meetings next month, including the Irish Grand National fixture at Fairyhouse and the five-day Punchestown Festival, as well as Aintree's Grand National meeting from 4-6 April.

The jockey partnered Lord Windermere to win last Wednesday's RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but suffered a heavy final-flight fall from Un Beau Matin in the Coral Cup later in the afternoon.

Although he returned to action the following day, Russell had to be taken to hospital for treatment after two rides, when it was revealed he had sustained a punctured lung.

Meanwhile, his weighing room colleague JT McNamara remains in a medically induced coma, with severe spinal injuries, at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol following a fall at Cheltenham on Thursday.