Jack Kennedy will not only sit out of this week’s Grand National Festival, but also the rest of the season through injury.
The Irish champion jockey broke his leg for a sixth time at Fairyhouse in November and despite making a return at the Cheltenham Festival he has been back on the sidelines since taking a fall aboard Corbetts Cross in the Gold Cup.
He would have enjoyed a stellar book of rides for Gordon Elliott at Aintree, including Three Card Brag in the Grand National, but keen to give his injuries plenty of time to heal, the 25-year-old will also miss the spring festivals on home soil at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.
Elliott explained: “Jack will be out until the end of the season, but he’s our first jockey and as soon as he’s back he’ll be back riding all the horses.”
It is the second time in three years Kennedy has missed Aintree through injury, with Davy Russell substituting in 2023.
The man who famously partnered Tiger Roll to dual National glory for Elliott is now retired, but the Cullentra House handler has more than able back-up with the likes of Sam Ewing and Danny Gilligan stepping into the spotlight on Merseyside, just as they did when Kennedy was injured earlier in the season.
Elliott added: “It’s unfortunate Jack’s having to miss the spring, but the lads who are stepping in are showing they are world-class jockeys and there is no problem with them riding the horses.”
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Gordon Elliott could be on the lookout for two jockeys on Thursday, after both Jack Kennedy and Sam Ewing were stood down at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
Kennedy only recently returned from his sixth broken leg on March 3 and had his first winner five days later.
He had six rides on Tuesday and had a second and a third from three mounts on Wednesday before failing to come out for his ride in the Cross Country Chase, a race which Ewing, due to have three rides tomorrow, also did not ride in.
Kennedy is scheduled to partner the favourite, Teahupoo, in the Stayers’ Hurdle on what will be day three of the Festival.
Elliott said: “Jack is sore. He thought it wouldn’t be fair, he wouldn’t be able to do the horses justice. We’re hoping he’ll be OK for the morning. I presume he’ll need to pass the doctor.
“Sam is very sore and has gone to get checked out.”
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Jack Kennedy secured his first success since returning from injury as Grimaud triumphed at Gowran on Saturday.
The 25-year-old broke his leg for a sixth time in a fall at Fairyhouse in late November, but was back in the saddle at Fairyhouse on Monday after winning his race to be fit for next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Kennedy was out of luck with his two initial rides and again at Thurles on Thursday, although all three mounts were placed.
Teaming up with Grimaud in the Golf Classics At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle, Kennedy regained the winning thread as the Gordon Elliott-trained 8-13 favourite prevailed by four lengths – the gelding’s first win over obstacles.
Kennedy said: “It’s nice to get a winner before next week.
“He had the form to do that and it’s nice for him to get off the mark.”
Kennedy has a strong book of rides to look forward to at Cheltenham, headed by Brighterdaysahead in Tuesday’s Unibet Champion Hurdle and defending champion Teahupoo in Thursday’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
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Jack Kennedy was pleased to get in some crucial match practice ahead of next week’s Cheltenham Festival after picking up minor honours on his first two rides back after injury at Leopardstown on Monday.
The 25-year-old had been sidelined since breaking his leg for a sixth time in a fall at Fairyhouse in late November, but was given the green light to return to the saddle last Friday.
Kennedy finished third on his comeback ride aboard Gordon Elliott’s Arabian Diamond and then jumped on his stablemate Qualimita, who was an 8-11 favourite to provide the champion jockey with a welcome winner in the 1888 Restaurant Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old was left in front after the pacesetting Glens Lullaby crashed out in the back straight, but tired on the run to the final flight and ultimately picked up the silver medal behind clear-cut winner Barnahash Primrose.
“The leg feels good and the fitness is good. I’m a bit disappointed not to get a winner there, but it’s great to be back,” said Kennedy.
“Today was a good starting point. There’s a couple of entries in Thurles (on Thursday) and I’m sure I’ll be in Gowran and Naas over the weekend. We’ll tip away and see how we get on.”
When asked how important it was to get some rides before the Festival, he added: “Very important. I’m fit enough, but just to get the eye back in and get back into the swing of things is very important.”
Brighterdaysahead with jockey Jack Kennedy at Punchestown (Damian Eagers/PA)
Barring any further setbacks, Kennedy can look forward to a strong book of rides at Prestbury Park, not least Brighterdaysahead, who earlier on Monday was confirmed for a mouthwatering clash with Constitution Hill in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
His other likely mounts include the defending Stayers’ Hurdle champion Teahupoo, plus The Yellow Clay and Romeo Coolio, who are bound for the Turners and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contests respectively.
Kennedy added: “To be going there with a live chance in a Champion Hurdle is very exciting, fingers crossed we’ll go well anyway.
“She looks great, Gordon is very happy with her and Shane McCann (work rider) is very happy with her – and when they’re happy, I’m happy.
Jack Kennedy celebrates winning the 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle on Teahupoo (David Davies/The Jockey Club)
“I’ve sat on Teahupoo a couple of times since I started back riding out and he’s in good form. I’m looking forward to riding him as well.
“The Yellow Clay is a grand, unassuming horse who doesn’t show you a whole pile at home and then he gets to the racecourse and is very good. You like them that way and he’s going from strength to strength, so hopefully he keeps going that way.
“Romeo Coolio is very good as well and I think people have kind of forgotten about him a little bit since Willie’s horse (Kopek Des Bordes) won here at the Dublin Racing Festival. I think he could be going in under the radar a little bit.”
Kennedy has also identified his likely Champion Bumper ride in the form of dual winner Kalypso’chance.
He said: “If I get the pick of them, I’d probably pick him. He’s another that wouldn’t show you a whole pile at home and then he gets to the racecourse and comes alive.”
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Jack Kennedy has been passed fit to return to action at Leopardstown on Monday.
Gordon Elliott’s stable jockey has been out of action since the end of November when he broke his leg for a sixth time in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse.
Kennedy returned to riding out duties at Elliott’s powerful Cullentra base this week and needed to get the all-clear from his surgeon to free him up for the Cheltenham Festival.
Having a Gold Cup win on Minella Indo among his 11 Festival victories, Elliott had repeatedly stated how vital it was to have the 25-year-old among his team of jockeys for the big week.
A statement on www.gordonelliottracing.com read: “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.”
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Gordon Elliott is keeping his fingers crossed Jack Kennedy will win his race against time to be fit to ride at the Cheltenham Festival.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined since breaking his leg for a sixth time in a fall at Fairyhouse in late November and missed the 2023 Festival with a similar injury.
In his absence Elliott has called on the likes of Sam Ewing, Danny Gilligan and Jordan Gainford to fill the void, with Ewing in particular making hay with Grade One victories aboard the Cheltenham-bound quartet of Croke Park, Romeo Coolio, Brighterdaysahead and The Yellow Clay.
Elliott is full of praise for his young team of riders, but knows having his stable jockey back on the teamsheet in the Cotswolds would be a big advantage.
“I’d love to have him back – Jack is part of the team. He looks great, he feels sound and is just waiting to get word back from the doctors,” the trainer said on Wednesday.
“He’s been at RACE for the last couple of months and has been on the simulator I think for the last couple of weeks. He’s been back riding out a few days.
“It will be disappointing (if he doesn’t ride at Cheltenham). I shouldn’t say it will be a blow because Sam, Danny and Jordan have all done a brilliant job and they’re all world-class jockeys themselves, but Jack is Jack – they don’t make too many Jacks, you know?
“He’s a great fella and very laid-back – he’s horizontal. Nothing fazes him at all.”
Despite his catalogue of injuries, Kennedy has ridden 10 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, his first coming aboard the Elliott-trained Labaik in the the 2017 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle when aged just 17.
He is also a Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider, having steered Henry de Bromhead’s Minella Indo to glory four years ago.
“I think he’s just unlucky,” Elliott added.
“People say he must have brittle bones and maybe there’s an element of that, but a few of those falls… I think any of us would have broken up with the same thing.”
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Jack Kennedy will undergo surgery after breaking his leg for a sixth time in a fall at Fairyhouse on Saturday.
The jockey was aboard Twoohthree in the opening race for Gordon Elliott at the meeting, with the horse fatally injured in a heavy fall and Kennedy treated on track.
The 25-year-old has fractured his lower tibia – an injury which requires surgery.
A post on X from Dr Jennifer Pugh, the chief medical officer for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said: “Having spoken to Jack and his surgeon this (Sunday) morning, unfortunately it has now been confirmed that Jack has a fracture of his lower tibia and will undergo surgery on that injury this morning in Blanchardstown.
“Jack was as ever in good spirits this morning despite the injury.
“Jack was also very keen to pass on his gratitude to everyone for their well wishes and we wish him well in his recovery from this injury.”
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Jack Kennedy is facing another spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg in a fall at Fairyhouse.
The hugely-talented rider has been plagued by injury throughout his career, now suffering a total of six broken legs.
Despite that, he has numerous Grade One victories to his name and won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Minella Indo in 2021.
Kennedy was riding Twoohthree in the opening race on Saturday’s card for his boss, Gordon Elliott, when the pair crashed out heavily at the last. The 25-year-old was attended to on-track, while sadly Twoohthree was fatally injured.
Speaking at Fairyhouse, Richard Downey, medical officer for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said: “Jack has broken his right lower leg and has gone to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for management of the injury.”
Elliott later enjoyed success with William Butler in the closing bumper but admitted his thoughts were with Kennedy.
The Cullentra House handler said: “It’s heartbreaking obviously for poor Jack to break his leg again. It puts a dampener on the day, but that’s the game we’re in.”
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Grade One-winning hurdler Farren Glory is set for an immediate return to the highest level after opening his account over fences at Naas.
Victorious in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse last season, Gordon Elliott’s charge may well have doubled his Grade One tally but for suffering a heavy fall two flights from home in the inaugural running of the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day.
He was well beaten on what proved to be his final start of the campaign at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and was no match for the impressive Inthepocket on his chasing bow at Wexford last month, but he made no mistake at the second time of asking.
Ridden by Jack Kennedy in the Mongey Communications Beginners Chase, Ho My Lord briefly threatened to make a real race of it halfway up the home straight, but the further Farren Glory (4-6 favourite) went the better he looked and he was seven and a half lengths clear at the line.
“Jack said his best was from the last to the line,” said Elliott.
“He didn’t get pulled up until down below and it’s job done. We probably would have preferred a bit more competition.
“They didn’t go quick and he was looking around him. He said it was actually slippy and he slipped a bit and then was a bit careful.
“I’d imagine, with horses not getting out, he’ll head straight to the Drinmore now.
“In fairness he was better on that ground, Wexford was horrible ground.”
Willie Mullins is confident there is more to come from Spasiba after opening his account over obstacles in the Cavan Developments Home Builders Supporting St Marys GAA Maiden Hurdle.
Runner-up on his hurdling bow at Limerick last Christmas, the five-year-old had since plied his trade in competitive handicaps on the Flat, most recently finishing ninth in the Irish Cesarewitch.
He was a 1-2 favourite reverting to jumping and made every yard of the running on his way to a two-and-a-quarter-length success under Paul Townend.
“It probably worked out workmanlike for his price, he was very short,” said Mullins.
“I’ll have to look at another half-mile for him and maybe going right-handed. He seemed to be leaning to the right, so a novice hurdle right-handed would be the obvious thing to do.
“It’s a big, open straight here in Naas, but he got the job done and that’s the important thing.”
Gavin Cromwell’s Pinot Gris (2-1) cruised to victory in the Fishery Lane Novice Hurdle, pulling three lengths clear under a confident ride from Keith Donoghue.
Cromwell said: “That was grand, the blinkers worked a treat. He’s a lazy, idle type of a horse and they just made him concentrate.
“If you look back to the Lartigue, he had a wander around up the straight and it’s a pity we didn’t have them on him then.
“We’ll maybe look for a handicap somewhere and he’s big enough to jump a fence in time.”
Lieutenant Mayne landed cramped odds with the minimum of fuss in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
John McConnell’s charge as a prohibitively-priced 1-4 shot after a couple of his major rivals were taken out and barely came off the bridle in winning by 16 lengths in the hands of Ben Harvey.
“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when the more fancied ones came out! We fancied him anyway, the form of the Fairyhouse bumper he finished sixth in is very good. I shouldn’t have run him and he’s better than that run,” said McConnell.
“We knew he was a nice horse and anything he was doing in bumpers was going to be a bonus.
“He jumps super. We don’t know where we’re going to end up with him, but he’s certainly a nice horse for the future.
“We’ll go baby steps with him and try to find a novice hurdle, maybe across the water, and then step him up in grade.”
The concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race went to Declan Queally’s Carrigmoornaspruce (5-2), who confirmed the promise of her debut second at Listowel with an authoritative success. Cromwell’s strong-travelling odds-on favourite Lau And Shaz weakened into third.
American Mike looks like spearheading a big team for Gordon Elliott in the Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan next weekend.
Always highly regarded, he has yet to really back up the promise he showed when second to Facile Vega in the 2022 Champion Bumper.
He did beat Fact To File on his chasing debut at Navan’s big two-day meeting last season, but while that rival went on to prove himself as one of the best novice chasers around, American Mike’s form tailed off.
As a result he has a handicap mark of 145 and Elliott wants to make use of that with a fresh horse in a race he loves to dominate.
“I’m a Meath man so I love coming to Navan. For me it’s one of the best tracks in the country. We like starting our good horses off at either Down Royal or Navan. It’s a very fair track, the best horse usually wins and we are very lucky it is on our doorstep,” said Elliott, speaking at the launch of the Navan Racing Festival.
Horses preparing to gallop at the press launch for @NavanRacecourse Racing Festival:1 Qualimita 2 Swing Davis 3 Wingmen 4 American Mike 5 Favori De Champdou 6 Riann 7 Maxxum 8 Magic Boum 10 Macinamillion 11 Railway Hurricane pic.twitter.com/oP23eVkirp
“On his day American Mike is very good. He runs well fresh and he’s probably just crying out for a bit of rain if the ground stays the way it is. He’s in good form, he is either hot or cold but looks well at the moment. We’ve been thinking of this race for a while, we’ll try him fresh. He ticks a lot of boxes, so we’re hoping the good American Mike turns up.”
As usual, Elliott expects to be well represented in a race he has won six times previously, but perhaps not quite as strong numerically as in recent years due to the prevailing quick ground.
He said: “Coko Beach and Delta Work are probably doubtful runners, Zanahiyr will more than likely run but like a lot of these ex-Flat horses you just wonder about them in big fields, on his run in the Galway Plate he’d have a chance but he just hasn’t backed it up.
Coko Beach won the Troytown for Gordon Elliott and Danny Gilligan last year but is an unlikely runner next week (Brian Lawless/PA)
“Three Card Brag probably won’t run because of the ground, Chemical Energy will run, Favori De Champdou needs a bit of rain, Gevrey needs rain, The Goffer will run, Fakir d’Alene will run, Riaan will love the ground but he’s just not an out-and-out three miler, if the ground stays good he’s got an each-way chance. Stuzzikini could run as well, I’ll probably run eight or 10.”
Jack Kennedy would usually have the tricky choice of choosing which one to ride – but this year he already knows.
“I’d say I’ll be riding American Mike, he’s good fresh, he loves it around Navan and he has a nice weight,” said Kennedy.
“He can give you an unbelievable feel, like when he won the Ten Up last year, when he’s on-song he gives you some feel, he jumps very well and is a horse with loads of ability.
“I was 16 when I won the Troytown on Riverside City, he was my first winner over fences and I had a treble as well, it was an unbelievable day.”
Regarding some of his nicer prospects for the rest of the meeting, Elliott said: “I’m hoping Wingmen will run in the race Stellar Story won last year. He’s won at the Punchestown Festival, he’s a point-to-point winner and he jumps well. We’ll have others entered, but at the moment he’s the one I have in mind for it.
“He’s a handful at home, he was almost unrideable, but he’s got a massive engine. He’s settled down at home and has got stronger. His form at Punchestown was top level.
“We’re probably a bit light at the top end with the main horses, but we’re strong enough with the novices. We’ve a lot of good owners who keep buying the new horses.
“Qualiminta ran well in third behind a nice mare of Gavin’s (Cromwell) last year (Only By Night) and we put her away. She jumps very well and could be top class this year. She could run in the mares race.
“I was delighted with The Yellow Clay at Down Royal and he’ll have the option of the For Auction Novice Hurdle. He’s a horse I really like, he’s got a great attitude, he does nothing fancy at home but has a massive engine.”
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Saint Roi and Hurricane Georgie, both unplaced in the Galway Plate earlier in the week, returned to Ballybrit on the final day of the festival to win.
The Willie Mullins-trained Saint Roi, a Grade One winner over fences as a novice and also successful in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2020, is now nine but relished being ridden aggressively by Aidan Kelly.
He looked a sitting duck in the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase as The Dasher Conway and Dreal Deal closed in but he battled back to win by a length and a quarter at 13-2.
Kelly said: “I’d say he wasn’t suited by the big field in the Plate, he got a fright at the first and never travelled from there on.
“Willie and Frank (Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus) today just said have him as handy as you can and he jumped and travelled great.
“He was taking a grip coming to his fences, but in the straight I’d say he was just getting a bit lonely. I’m probably having more of a blow than he is!”
He added: “This is my first winner for Willie, but I’ve only had a couple of rides for him.”
The victory ensured Mullins ended the week as leading trainer, while the success of Gordon Elliott’s Hurricane Georgie for Jack Kennedy meant he took home the leading rider prize.
Hurricane Georgie bounced back from finishing seventh in the Galway Plate to win (Niall Carson/PA)
Sent off 4-1 in the Kinlay Hostel Chase having finished seventh in the Plate, she gradually wore down Mullins’ Easy Game and pulled away to win comfortably by four and a half lengths.
“She’s a great little mare, she’s very tough. She’s not the biggest in the world and she prefers those smaller fields. She jumped very well there today,” said Kennedy.
“I picked them up fairly handy and I’d say she only did what she had to when she hit the front.”
Regarding being top jockey for the festival he said: “I don’t usually have a good Galway so it’s nice to get that this year.
“It’s a great week when you’re having a bit of luck, but it’s a long week when you’re not!”
Kennedy had earlier won on Mark Fahey’s 100-30 joint-favourite Flicker Of Hope in the Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle.
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Jack Kennedy survived having to sit out the final day of the season through suspension to claim his first Irish jump jockeys’ championship.
Paul Townend had topped the table for the past five years but went into the last afternoon of the Punchestown Festival trailing 123-119, with five booked rides left to turn things around.
His task was made even harder when opening mount Klarc Kent was pulled up and a smooth success for Lossiemouth only delayed matters, before Glengouly was another Townend ride who failed to complete the course.
Townend closed the gap to two when scoring on Kargese but was out of luck on his final mount Olympic Man.
Kennedy, who has struck up a formidable partnership with trainer Gordon Elliott, said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling to have won the championship.
Trainer Gordon Elliott and new Irish National Hunt champion jockey Jack Kennedy (Brian Lawless/PA).
“Paul got close enough in recent weeks to give me loads of sleepless nights but I’m delighted to have hung on. I’ve had a great 12 months, leading the championship for much of the way and riding over 100 winners in a season for the first time in my career.
“There were loads of great days and riding Grade One winners in Ireland on such good horses as Gerri Colombe, Teahupoo, Farren Glory, Found A Fifty, Caldwell Potter and Irish Point was very special.
“A massive thanks to Gordon and all the owners, all the staff in Gordon’s and all the trainers that have supported me this year, my agent Kevin O’Ryan and everyone behind me. Without my family, this wouldn’t be possible.”
Elliott added: “I’m thrilled for Jack. We have been thinking about this day since he was 16!
“Unfortunately, he got a couple of hold-ups each year. Last year, he was clear but got hurt in Naas. We knew this year he was in good nick. He’s a lot stronger.
“I’m so happy. He deserves this more than anyone, with all the injuries that he’s had. He bounces back and that’s his attitude. Hopefully we’ll get another 10 or 15 years out of him.”
Willie Mullins receives his trainers’ championship award (PA)
Willie Mullins continued his domination of the National Hunt trainers’ championship in Ireland, coming out on top for the 18th time and adding to his memorable title triumph in Britain.
He said: “It’s fair to say that this has been our best season at home and abroad, and it is a credit to our hard-working and dedicated team that we are celebrating again today.
“The horses have been in some order from around November-time. They’ve just been so healthy and even this week, some of them have been putting in their best performances. When you have a healthy horse, they can keep on improving the whole season through.”
Champion owner JP McManus said: “It’s such a great honour to win this title and I feel so lucky. My sincere thanks to all the trainers, jockeys, stable staff and all who contributed so much to my success.
“I have had wonderful days out with my family, grandchildren and friends and the season has given me memories which I will greatly treasure.”
Danny Gilligan was crowned the champion conditional rider, Patrick Mullins was the leading amateur jockey and Jody Townend prevailed in the female version of that category.
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Gordon Elliott notched back-to-back victories in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle as Teahupoo stormed up the Cheltenham hill for Festival glory.
The seven-year-old could only finish third behind veteran stablemate Sire Du Berlais when sent off the 9-4 favourite 12 months ago, but made no mistake on his return to Prestbury Park in the hands of Jack Kennedy – who along with the Cullentra House handler was getting off the mark for the week.
Sent off the well-backed 5-4 favourite having not been seen since claiming a second Hatton’s Grace in December, he was ridden with plenty of confidence and also plenty of daylight as he charted a wide path on his latest trip to the Cotswolds.
Gordon Elliott (right) with jockey Jack Kennedy at the trophy presentation (Mike Egerton/PA)
Kennedy inched his mount into contention two out and although not fluent at the penultimate flight, he was hot on the tail of Flooring Porter as the business end approached.
Fellow Irish raiders Home By The Lee and Buddy One were also in the mix on the long run to the last but Teahupoo soon cemented his dominance and having jumped the final flight with a narrow advantage, he was not for catching in the closing stages as he sprinted clear of the gallant Flooring Porter.
Elliott said: “He’s best fresh so we said we’d come straight here. Listen, it’s great to get a winner. They’ve been running well, just hitting the crossbar, they’ve had no excuses but to win the Stayers’ Hurdle is unbelievable and I’m delighted for the whole team.
“It’s difficult to tell myself to stay patient when you don’t have a winner, it’s been a long couple of days but they’ve bene running well. We’ve got one now. This was always going to be our best day, this was one of our biggest guns.
“I was a little anxious when he missed the second-last and then he probably got there too soon because he had to give him a squeeze.
“I think he’s a stronger horse this year and saddling him I thought he’d grown.
“He’ll stay hurdling, we’ll never say never but at the moment he’ll stay hurdling. There are some nice races at Aintree and Punchestown for him so we’ll have a look at those.”
Gavin Cromwell was pleased with the effort of Flooring Porter (right) (Mike Egerton/PA)
Of Flooring Porter, Gavin Cromwell said: “I’m delighted with the run, obviously you hate standing in the second place but that’s just the nature of the beast and I don’t think we could have done anything any differently.
“It was a very game performance, he was headed and tried all the way to the line. He was a good second and the winner is a worthy winner.
“We’ll have to consider going to Aintree, we’ll digest this first and we’ll see.
“He’s been a warrior and please God he’s not finished just yet.”
Home By The Lee was third for Joseph O’Brien, who said: “It’s nice to see him come back to himself with two fantastic horses in front of us.”
Paul Gilligan said of the fourth-placed Buddy One: “It was an absolutely super run and if the ground was just a touch better it would have suited him better, but I’m not complaining as to get in this semi-circle here is where you want to be.
“Obviously we were in the winning spot in November and we’ll try to get back in the winning spot here again sometime.
“He was very sore in his back after his last run in Leopardstown and scoped a little wrong as well. He has now proved that he is the horse that we think he is.
“As I’ve said all along it’s horses for courses and he loves this place.
“I’d say I’ll go over fences next season looking at the way he jumps, and it’s just great to have a horse like this for the three men that own him because getting people to back a small yard like ours is near impossible and they’ve invested in this horse and a couple of others. They’re just fantastic men.
“I have every confidence in this horse, he did a piece of work last week and it was just electric, so I did fancy him today.
“I definitely won’t go to Punchestown, we might go to Aintree as he ran very well last year, but we’ll see. I’m not going to abuse the horse and he’s entitled to a very good break now.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/275616403-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-03-14 15:55:092024-03-14 16:35:17Teahupoo strikes Stayers’ gold for Elliott
For a young jockey, Jack Kennedy is very familiar with the highs and lows that racing can supply.
The 24-year-old has experienced extremes of both throughout his career so far, winning 10 times at the Cheltenham Festival but missing the meeting completely due to injury twice.
He has suffered a broken leg on five different occasions, but each time has returned to action to seamlessly pick up where he left off.
Cheltenham success, which evades many good jockeys for years, came almost instantly to Kennedy when he partnered Labaik to victory in the 2017 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, despite the horse being a 25-1 chance with a history of refusing to race.
The triumph was no fluke, however, and at the 2018 Festival he rode four winners for Gordon Elliott, though the following year he drew a blank and returned to Ireland empty handed.
Kennedy aboard Labaik after his first Festival success in 2017 (David Davies/PA)
Injury prevented him from riding at the meeting in 2020, but the all-or-nothing nature of his Cheltenham fortunes was evidenced again in 2021, as he rode four winners, including the biggest prize of them all when partnering Henry de Bromhead’s Minella Indo to Gold Cup victory.
However, the whole event was held behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, something that struck him as he walked back to the paddock past an empty grandstand that would usually be brimming with people.
“It was class, obviously it was a pity there was no one there but the initial feeling I got when I crossed the line was the same as if the stands were packed,” he said.
“The walk down the chute and things afterwards, that’s when you realise there’s no one there, but it was a dream come true.”
Delta Work provided him with a sole victory in 2022 when winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase before a fall at Naas the following January scuppered any hopes of riding at the meeting last year.
Kennedy with Minella Indo after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2021 (Alan Crowhurst/PA)
“Missing it last year was tough and there’s a while to go yet, so hopefully I do make it there,” the rider said.
“I’ll keep going, as when you start thinking about those sort of things, then something goes wrong then. I’ll keep going as usual.
“I suppose it’s just the cards you’re dealt. We seem to be going well this year.
“Labaik seems a while ago and obviously there’s been a couple of years I’ve missed through injury.”
The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle of the sport for many and for the big operations, from which people expect success, there is a great sense of pressure to get off the mark as soon as possible.
Kennedy aboard Delta Work (Mike Egerton/PA)
Spectators will be keenly waiting for the first success from the power stables of Willie Mullins and Elliott and this is a pressure that trails into the weighing room, too.
“To get a winner is great, we’ll try to pick up as many as possible – but if I get one, I’ll be happy,” said Kennedy.
“It’s a big help if you can get one on the board early, it kind of settles you into the week better than if you’re left waiting for one. It’s a massive help if you can get one on the first day.
“If you haven’t had a winner by the Thursday, you’d obviously be getting a bit anxious, but you’d try to not let it get it to you and you just have to keep riding as best you can.
“I suppose I get a bit nervous, but I wouldn’t let it get to me. Sitting in the weighing room, maybe the 10 minutes before you go out, you’re wanting to get on with it, but as soon as you get up on them, it all goes away.
“The weighing room is quieter than everywhere else, as everyone is in the zone. Once you get settled into the whole thing, everyone will loosen up a bit, but before the race people are probably a bit tense.
Kennedy and Gordon Elliott at the Festival in 2018 (David Davies/PA)
“It depends what sort of week you’re having, if it’s a good week it flies by and if it’s a bad week it can be the longest week of your life. In 2019, I didn’t have a winner there, that was a long week.”
Kennedy may have ridden a Gold Cup winner for De Bromhead but Elliott is the trainer with whom he is most readily associated and the two have a well-established bond.
“Gordon has been unreal. From the minute I came in here, he hasn’t been afraid to put me up on good horses,” he said.
“I’ve been up here on school holidays since I was 12 or 13 and started here full-time just before I turned 16.
“Myself and Gordon have the same ideas about things and seem to work well together. I’m sure he’s been unhappy with a few rides around there, actually in 2019 after the County Hurdle (unseated from Eclair De Beaufeau at the last), I got a bit of a telling off after that!
“Even if I did something wrong, Gordon would tell me but he forgets about it straight away and it’s on to the next one.”
It is clearly a partnership based on mutual esteem and loyalty and Elliott is unreserved in his praise for the rider, simply saying: “In my mind, he’s the best jockey riding, on either side of the Irish Sea – he’s different class.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/274747778-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-03-03 14:35:272024-03-03 14:35:27Kennedy fired up for more Festival success
Where It All Began got off the mark over fences in the QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown.
Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old had performed with credit in seven previous starts over fences but was yet to taste success in the discipline and was last seen winning in a maiden hurdle in January 2022.
Under Jack Kennedy, he stepped up to a staying trip of three miles and three furlongs for the first time at Punchestown and started as a 10-1 chance in a field of 15.
The gelding always looked comfortable but it was on the turn for home that the race became a test of stamina and it looked as though favourite We’llhavewan had the upper hand.
However, Where It All Began started to pick off his rivals, clearly relishing the extra distance as galloped home to take the Listed contest by an easy 16 lengths.
“He jumped great and never missed a beat the whole way,” Kennedy said.
“It probably looked turning in that I was going to finish third but stamina really kicked in when we straightened up. I’m delighted with him.
“He’s not reliant on heavy ground, just a test of stamina is what he wants.
“He’d been running well and threatened to do something like that.”
As a result of the performance Paddy Power and Betfair slashed his price for the Grand National from 200-1 to 50-1, with weights for the Aintree contest revealed on Tuesday.
Elliott nominated two alternative targets for the horse, however, one at the Cheltenham Festival in March and one closer to home at Fairyhouse, with only 34 runners permitted in the National this year.
He said: “He could go for the Kim Muir at Cheltenham or an Irish National. It was a good performance and he stays really well.”
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