Star jockey Ryan Moore has finished third aboard Peterhof in his return from injury at Newmarket.

The winner of three British championships and many other races around the world including the 2014 Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, Moore made his comeback on Thursday.

He had been sidelined since July 9 after he suffered a bad neck injury when his mount reared up in the barrier stalls.

Some reports had suggested the 32-year-old could miss the entire Flat season, but Moore caught virtually everyone by surprise on Thursday morning when his name appeared before Peterhof in the Arkle Finance Handicap.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt was predictably sent off the 100-30 favourite, and although he made up a fair bit of ground heading into the final two furlongs (400m), Moore's mount weakened late for third.

At Newmarket on Saturday, Moore links up competitively with Aidan O'Brien for the first time since his injury, riding Deauville in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge and Alice Springs in the Cheveley Park.

He will also be on Group One duty aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained Rouleau in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes.

His other four rides on the Newmarket weekend card are for Stoute, the pick of which being Abseil in the Cambridgeshire.

The rider has admitted to frustration by his enforced hiatus, but understood the need for a complete recovery.

"It's probably the longest I've been without sitting on a horse," Moore told Sky Sports.

"I enjoy race-riding and you miss that sort of contact and getting out and just competing, just doing something a little bit different every day.

"I stayed away (from racing), really just concentrating on getting myself better.