JORDAN Gainford will return to race-riding at Fairyhouse today [Saturday] following more than two months on the sidelines.

The 24-year-old jockey fractured two vertebrae between his shoulder blades in a fall at Naas on December 14th. It caused him to miss the winning ride on Hewick in the King George VI Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

“It’s been a tough time,” he said. “I had to wear a brace for four weeks and then I started a fitness programme at RACE with coach Wayne Middleton and new physio Gavin Egan.

“I went there three times a week, spending 45 mins getting physio and then an hour in the gym. I started off doing simple exercises, then progressed to lifting weights and shouldering weights.”

Following a consultation with Dr Paddy Kenny, Gainford was passed fit to ride work last week. “It went very well,” he said.

Based with trainer Gordon Elliott, the Wexford man is hoping for better luck this year after a bad run of injuries in 2023.

Gainford first hit the headlines at Cheltenham in 2021 when he won the Plate on The Shunter for trainer Emmet Mullins and owner J.P. McManus. In 2022 he was chosen by trainer Shark Hanlon to partner Hewick and they won both the Galway Plate and American Grand National.

Gordon Elliott has also given Gainford plenty of opportunities and the jockey was on board Gerri Colombe for two Grade 1 wins last season, at Limerick and Sandown. However, the rider picked up an injury at Cheltenham last year and made it back in time for Punchestown, where he rode a winner before aggravating an old injury the very next day.

“Hopefully it’s onward and upwards now,” Gainford said. “I have a very good agent in Garry Cribbin and I’m keen to make up for lost time.”

Gainford is thought to be in the mix for the mount on Hewick in the Cheltenham Gold Cup though Hanlon has said it won’t be easy to jock off Gavin Sheehan, who performed a near-miracle to win the King George on the horse.

At Fairyhouse today, Gainford has just one ride. He partners outsider-of-four Fury Road in the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase.

On Sunday at Naas his mounts include hot favourite Wodhooh in the opening Grade 3 juvenile hurdle.