JACK Kennedy will return to the saddle at Leopardstown on Monday, following a three-month absence from the racecourse with a broken leg.

The champion jump jockey has been in a race against time to make a full recovery ahead of the Cheltenham Festival and on Friday morning trainer Gordon Elliott revealed that the Kerryman has been given the all-clear.

Writing on his website, Elliott said: "Today we learned that 2023/24 Champion NH jockey Jack Kennedy has been given the green light to get back to race riding for Monday in Leopardstown.

"He was passed fit by his surgeon Paddy Kenny this morning and will be a great addition to our Cheltenham team as always."

Aged 25, Kennedy has ridden 11 Cheltenham winners to-date.

Kennedy has been riding out for Elliottt in recent days. At a media event last Tuesday Elliott said: “Jack has been back riding out and just has to get the okay from the doctors. He looks great and feels sound. Hopefully we’ll know very soon how he is, we’re waiting to know. He’s been in RACE for the last few months, he’s been on the simulator for the last couple of weeks and is back riding out a few days.

“I’d love to have him back, he’s obviously a big part of the team. It’d be disappointing if he doesn’t get there, but I shouldn’t say it’d be blow because Sam [Ewing], Danny [Gilligan] and Jordan [Gainford] have all done a brilliant job and are world-class jockeys. Jack is Jack, though. They don't make many like him. Nothing phases him. I think he’s just been unlucky with injury.”