Gordon Elliott makes first entries following end of six-month suspension

Gordon Elliott could send out his first runners at Tuesday's Flat meeting at Punchestown after his six-month suspension came to an end on Thursday.

The Cullentra-based trainer, who was suspended by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board in March, is not wasting any time in getting back to work and also entered a batch of horses for the jumps fixture at Sligo next Wednesday.

His first runner back at Punchestown could be Oh Purple Reign, a recent winner for Denise Foster, who trained the horses at Cullentra House Stables for the past six months while Elliott was suspended.

Oh Purple Reign is entered in the Donate To The Coast To The Curragh Cycle In Honour Of Pat Smullen Handicap, a charity event which is being organised by regular Racing Post contributor Gavin Lynch.

Gordon Elliott: 'I'm sorry for what I did. A chance to move on is all I'm after' (Members' Club)

Elliott could also be represented at Punchestown by Alice Kitty and Royal Eagle, who are both entered in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap, while Gift Of Kings has been handed a slot in the Irish Racing Working Together Handicap.

Captain Middleton is also in the mix and has an entry in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.

Elliott has made nine entries for the jumps fixture at Sligo but the trainer will be without his old ally and friend Davy Russell for the meeting, with the legendary rider revealing he plans to return from a career-threatening injury at Downpatrick next Friday.

Davy Russell: due to return to action next week at DownpatrickCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Russell told the Racing Post earlier this month that the chance to return to racing alongside Elliott motivated him after spending almost a year on the sidelines through injury.

The 41-year-old three-time Irish champion jockey will return to the saddle after fracturing his C6 and C7 vertebrae and dislocating his T1 when Doctor Duffy crashed out of the Munster National in October.

Speaking in his Star Sports blog, Russell said: "After approaching 11 months, I'm delighted to tell you that I'm pencilled in for a return to race-riding next Friday September 17 at Downpatrick and then again at Navan the next day.

Davy Russell nearing return and excited to team up with old ally Gordon Elliott

"It's exciting. I'm going to take things steady and there is no set plan on how many I will ride each day or each week. If Gordon wants me to ride one, I'll ride it. If he offers me five or six, that's no bother either.

"The key is simply being ready to go and that's where I am at now. I promised myself I'd give it as long as it takes as I didn't want to come back and not be at my best. I pushed really hard to get back for Cheltenham back in March, but it was just too soon."

Not only will Elliott have Russell to call on for his return but Jack Kennedy, who was out of action since injuring his ribs in a fall in a juvenile hurdle at Roscommon last week, will be fit to ride but will miss Sligo due to a suspension.

Kennedy said: "I am feeling good and ready to come back. I'd be riding at Sligo only I'm suspended as I got a day for the start of the Galway Hurdle. I'll be back next week and I'm looking forward to getting started again."

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