Jack in search of that precious Cheltenham winner
IT’S more a case of what hasn’t been said about Jack Kennedy these days than what has, such is the rise in a career that feels like it’s been running long before it had the chance to walk.
Nowadays it’s easy fall into the trap of just repeating everything that’s already been said about Jack. A random Google search of words ‘precocious’ and ‘Jack Kennedy’ is likely to churn out more results than a Saturday afternoon’s round-up of cross-channel soccer scores.
Occasionally, Jack still enjoys the company of his older brother Paddy in the weigh room - Paddy being another accomplished jockey and someone Jack looked up to in his early days.
So has much changed in such a fast-paced career?
“I don’t think my style has changed much since I started riding. I’ve got a bit stronger maybe, but I still ride the same as when I started. Some things are the same whether you’re new or at it a long time. I try to get horses settled as best I can in races. If they’re doing too much through the race, it takes too much out of them. So getting them relaxed is always important.”
I first spoke to Jack a year ago when he was more hopeful than certain of an opportunity to ride at Cheltenham. He also had 3Ibs left in his claim which has since vanished quicker than a bolt of lightning. A year later and a Cheltenham win is all that’s missing from a CV jam-packed with distinction. If 2016 was about finding the opportunity, 2017 is about finding that precious winner.
Surprising as it may seem, Jack’s first ride at the 2016 festival wasn’t courtesy of a Gordon Elliott charge, but rather 40/1 shot, Audacious Plan, for trainer Rebecca Curtis on the opening day - a ride that didn’t go to plan, but still felt as it should.
“It was exciting to get that ride on the first day. You feel the atmosphere and it’s great. Even though I didn’t get too far around, it still felt good. My family were over the moon to see me ride at the festival and my parents were there as well, which was great,” said Jack.
In total, Jack has had five goes around Prestbury Park - all without a win and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what it would mean should he hit the target next week. In the 2016 festival ride on Taglietelle in the Pertemps Hurdle, Jack finished a commendable fourth and came close to experiencing what it would feel like to ride a festival winner.
“With Taglietelle I was in the mix going down to the last and he ran a great race. I got a great thrill out of that. You wouldn’t really take much notice of the stand and the crowd when you’re riding, but at the same time I was still trying to take in as much of the atmosphere as I could.”
Jack reached a century of career wins when bagging his first Grade 1 aboard Outlander in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. So, is Outlander worthy of a whisper as Gold Cup contender?
“I definitely think he has it in him, especially the way the race is this year. If Don Cossack was in it he’d still be the one to beat, but it’s fairly open. I’d be very hopeful Outlander would put it up to them all.”
Finally, in 2010 when 17 year old Sam Twiston-Davis won the Foxhunter Chase (a race for amateurs) on Baby Run, he was the talk of Cheltenham Town. But Jack Kennedy’s career belies his 17 years. He is no longer the boyhood wonder but a fullfledged pro in a tough and unforgiving sport and were he to come storming up the hill in front - joyful though it would be - it would be anything but surprising.
“Trying to get there in one piece is always the worry in this game. Hopefully I can get the win, but just getting a few more rides than last year would do. Just to be riding there at all I’d be happy.”