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Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh will be reunited when Tidal Bay tackles the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Walsh became available after his intended mount, the Willie Mullins-trained Rubi Ball, was a surprising absentee from the five-day declarations for the Grade One feature, returning lame from a schooling session at Punchestown.

With Boston Bob, owned like Tidal Bay by Graham Wylie, also taken out, Mullins was left without a runner and Walsh was suddenly hot property.

His former boss Nicholls, who until this season had shared Walsh's services with Mullins, was first to snap him up for the veteran Tidal Bay. The 13-year-old ran a blinder in the Welsh Grand National to show he has lost none of his ability and on his only previous visit to Leopardstown he won the Lexus Chase.

"We've decided to go to Ireland with Tidal. It's a small field, good prize money, he's one from one at the track and he'll get his ground. Of course Ruby being available also helps, so it has worked out for us. Mr Wylie will have some other runners on the card as well so it made sense to run really," said Nicholls.

Mullins and Walsh were delighted with Rubi Ball's effort in the Lexus and had been looking forward to seeing him run again this weekend. After filling the runner-up spot over hurdles at Thurles on his Irish debut, the nine-year-old performed with plenty of credit to finish third behind Bobs Worth in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December.

Mullins said: "Unfortunately I've had to take Rubi Ball out as he came back lame after schooling at Punchestown on Sunday. We were delighted with the way he worked at Punchestown, so it's very disappointing he's not going to be able to run in Leopardstown. I've taken Boston Bob out of the Hennessy as well, so we won't have a runner in the race, unfortunately."

Rubi Ball's defection leaves a field of seven possible runners, with Lexus runner-up First Lieutenant the likely favourite for Mouse Morris.

Morris said: "He is all set to run on Sunday. He is in great form and this race has been the plan since he ran at Christmas time."

First Lieutenant's owners Gigginstown House Stud have a formidable hand, with Philip Fenton's Last Instalment and the Gordon Elliott-trained Roi Du Mee also in contention. Jim Culloty's Lord Windermere, Dessie Hughes' Lyreen Legend and the Noel Meade-trained Texas Jack complete the confirmations.