Blackmore back among the winners as Flower blooms

July Flower provided Rachael Blackmore with her first winner since returning from injury in the Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey was sidelined for three months after suffering a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick in September.

Blackmore returned to action at Naas two weeks ago and had since had 16 rides without success.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained July Flower was a 15-2 shot to get her back in the winner’s enclosure at Grade Three level and rounded the home turn in third place behind the strong-travelling Kala Conti.

Blackmore’s mount took over going around the dolled-off final flight and while Kala Conti tried her best to stay in the race, July Flower kicked clear late on to register a four-length verdict.

“It is just lovely to get one again, it’s brilliant. Everyone wants to be riding winners at a festival like this and it’s great to get it done,” said Blackmore.

“I feel like I was off for a long time – I was off for a long time. It’s brilliant to get back doing what you want to be doing.”

Reflecting on her injury, she added: “It was a bone in my neck up high, so it was quite serious. Ordinarily if you’re feeling good and you can do certain movements doctors are happy to go with you, but they were obviously being very cautious when it is your neck.

“Stupidly I kept setting myself an unachievable target over the three months and the doctors kept saying I had to sit out my time. Being back for Christmas is important, so at least I got back for that.”

Of July Flower, De Bromhead added: “She jumped great and Rachael was brilliant on her.

“I’m delighted for Duncan (Angove, owner) who was happy to buy her during the summer and obviously she’s a valuable broodmare as well.

“We had her when she was a younger mare and we liked her then, so when she came back on the market we were delighted to get her.

“We bought her to win the Mares’ Hurdle (at Cheltenham) so the dream is alive and we’ll probably head straight there now.”