Blackmore returns as Barcoe lands another winner

After over three months on the sidelines Rachael Blackmore returned to race-riding aboard the unplaced Balko Des Flos in the W.B. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle.

The former Ryanair Chase winner and this year’s Grand National runner-up trailed home in eleventh but Blackmore expressed her delight to be back in action.

"It is great to be back and I got a lovely horse to come back on. I feel good, have been riding out a few weeks now and I'm looking forward to getting going now and kicking on.

"He will definitely improve for the run and his future will be cross-country races and Aintree and so on, but it was lovely to start him back. It was good to get him going."

At the business end of the race the 11/4 favourite (from 6/1 this morning) Jiving Jerry came from off the pace to challenge on the run-in and got up close home to win by a head from Coventry (11/1) with long-time leader Minx Tiara (20/1) relegated to third close home.

It was a fourth career win for the 6-year-old who won over two miles at the Galway Bank Holiday fixture last year.

In-form winning trainer Jimmy Barcoe said: "That's his fourth win and he had a great run the last day. I'd say he came on for it and the form has worked out very well so we were hopeful.

"He goes on heavy and over any trip, he has won over two miles and was beaten 2L over three the last day, so hopefully he will get into some nice handicaps.

"He could jump a fence in the summer as he is not a big horse but in saying that he is very good to jump. He is a brilliant horse to have."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes