Jumping Jack reigns supreme
TWO Kerry jockeys rode opening day winners at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, with 17-year old Jack Kennedy from Dingle claiming his first winner at the famous meeting. “Words can’t describe what it’s like,” Kennedy told ITV Racing, after winning the Festival’s opening race aboard 25/1 shot Labaik in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for trainer Gordon Elliott. “It couldn’t have gone any better. I always enjoyed watching it and it’s great to get a taste of it. Everyone wants more, but I’ll be going home a very happy lad at the end of the week now, however things go. It’s brilliant.” Kennedy was coolness personified on the grey six-year-old to beat compatriot and 3-1 favourite Melon, ridden by Ruby Walsh, into second place. Meanwhile, Tralee’s Bryan Cooper brought his brilliant form to the Cotswolds to complete a Kerry double when he won the OLBG Mares Hurdle aboard Apple’s Jade, to give Elliott his second of three winners. Cooper got the 7/2 shot home a length and half clear of second favourite Vroum Vroum Mag. Cooper said: “Gordon’s a genius and I’m very lucky to ride for him.”
DINGLE jockey Jack Kennedy was the toast of Kerry on the first day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival after he rode his first Festival winner, Labaik, in the opening two-mile Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday.
Seventeen-year old Kennedy said “words can’t describe what it’s like” after a brilliant ride aboard the Gordon Elliott trained grey six-year-old, to beat compatriot and 3-1 favourite Melon, ridden by Ruby Walsh.
“Words can’t describe what it’s like,” Kennedy told ITV Racing. “I was probably a little bit far back but they went a good gallop. It couldn’t have gone any better. I always enjoyed watching it (as a boy) and it’s great to get a taste of it. Everyone wants more, but I’ll be going home a very happy lad at the end of the week now, however things go. It’s brilliant.”
Kennedy stayed patient on board the 25-1 Labaik and took up the running over the last after the long-time leader Cilaos Emery faded after the last flight, and led home Melon by two and a quarter lengths with River Wylde another lengths back in third.
Elliott said: “It just all worked out today. I told Jack if he jumped off to just hunt around and ride him for a place. I’ve always said he’s our best work horse in the yard.”
Meanwhile, Tralee jockey Bryan Cooper made it a Kerry double Kerry when he won the OLBG Mares Hurdle aboard Apple’s Jade for Gordon Elliott. Cooper got the 7/2 shot home 1 1/2 lengths clear of Vroum Vroum Mag.