Rachael Blackmore back from injury with ride on Grand National second at Galway

Rachael Blackmore's spell on the sidelines is set to end this Saturday as the leading jockey returns to the saddle for the first time in just over three months at Galway.

The record-breaking rider indicated last month she was targeting an October return, having undergone surgery in July following a fall at Killarney in which she sustained a fractured ankle and hip injury.

Declarations for the seven-race jumps card at Ballybrit see Blackmore booked for one ride on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Balko Des Flos in a 2m6f handicap hurdle (3.37).

It will be the talented ten-year-old's first start since finishing second at 100-1 in last season's Randox Grand National behind Minella Times, who was memorably steered to victory by Blackmore.

Discorama, placed three times at the Cheltenham Festival for trainer Paul Nolan, is one of 12 challengers to Balko Des Flos in the race.

Blackmore knows her Saturday mount well, having ridden the RacehorseClub-owned performer on ten previous occasions.

Balko Des Flos (orange cap): chased home Minella Times in last season's Randox Grand NationalCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The 2021 Cheltenham Festival's leading rider had been setting the pace atop the Irish jump jockeys' championship before her injuries. A double on the day of her fall from 11-10 favourite Merry Poppins saw her move to 22 winners for the season.

Darragh O'Keeffe and Jordan Gainford, now flying high at the head of the championship on 36 and 32 winners respectively, are clear from 11 riders who have ridden between 20 and 25 winners this season, including Blackmore.

She landed the Racing Ride of the Season Award at The McCoys earlier this month for her victory on Minella Times at Aintree when becoming the first female jockey to win the world's most famous race.

Read this next:

'Four went on to run in Grade 1s' – five pointers at Cheltenham on Saturday

BHA handling second case about weighing room behaviour towards a female jockey

The jumps season is here! Grab your copy of The Big Jump Off, our 72-page guide to the 2021-22 National Hunt season, from the Racing Post shop or from independent newsagents and many Co-Ops now. It contains a wealth of unbeatable content including ante-post tips, guest columnists, divisional analysis and much more. Don't miss out.