Champion Irish jumps jockey Ruby Walsh says the call-up to ride in Australia is a nice surprise.

Walsh will ride the Ciaron Maher-trained Bashboy in Sunday's Grand National Steeplechase at Ballarat and has also picked up the mount on Archfire for Robert Smerdon in the J J Houlahan Hurdle.

He was asked early in the week if he would be interested pending Steve Pateman's appeal against suspension which was unsuccessful on Wednesday.

"This is a new adventure for me. It's good prize money, prestigious racing and it was nice to be asked," Walsh told Racing UK TV.

"Someone from Australia contacted Willie Mullins on Monday morning to ask whether I would have any interest in going.

"Things have moved from there. It was a very unexpected phone call, but a nice one all the same."

Walsh said although he was unfamiliar with dual winner Bashboy, he would have plenty of time to study his form on the flight to Australia.

"I am due to ride at Sligo Thursday night, fly Friday morning, and then back home on Tuesday morning," he said.

"I am sure there will be plenty of time to watch the videos of the horse and the track between Dublin and Melbourne.

"They had an unusually wet winter, so it might be a case of whatever handles the testing ground the best. I am told my fella will, and hopefully they're right."

Maher said it was a coup to get someone of Walsh's calibre to ride Bashboy.

"I think it's great for Australian racing, for Australian jumps racing, to have Ruby riding in one of our premier races," he said.

"It's just great to have him compete here and I'm sure it will create a lot of interest overseas as well."