Bitter-sweet Dublin Festival for injured Kennedy
A FRACTURED femur for Jack Kennedy less than 30 minutes after landing the Irish Gold Cup aboard Delta Work took the gloss off an otherwise flawless Dublin Racing Festival for Kerry jockeys.
The two-day Leopardstown event produced no shortage of drama at a bitter-sweet Dublin Festival for Kerry connections.
The sight of Bryan Cooper smiling his way back to the winner’s enclosure having secured a long overdue Grade One win was one to behold. Cooper timed Latest Exhibition’s run to perfection in The
Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle over 2m 6f. The Oscar gelding seemed to relish the extra trip and responded when asked.
Cooper is a multiple Grade One winning rider, while trainer Paul Nolan also produced his share of horses for the big occasion in the past. The Cooper/Nolan Lazarus-like partnership wasn’t lost on the appreciative Leopardstown crowd
“It’s great to be on a horse with a bit of an engine again,” said Cooper. “When you have good horses it’s very easy to have big winners as you need an engine under the bonnet. Fair play to the lads (the Nolan brothers) for supporting me and all credit goes to them. They’re great trainers and good supporters of mine.”
Meanwhile, rising Listowel rider Kevin Brouder teamed up with Limerick trainer Charles Byrnes to land the Ladbroke Hurdle over 2 miles with Thosedaysaregone. The 22-runner handicap ensured space, timing and skill would be needed, which Brouder showed in abundance. The omission of the second last hurdle due to low lying sunlight allowed Brouder get his charge into a good rhythm heading to the last and the Getaway gelding timed it perfectly to get up on the line.
“This old horse has been my favourite through my time racing,” Brouder said. “He’s pleasant to deal with and a little bit quirky, as all the good horses are. I didn’t want to hit the front too soon. To do it on a day like today, and with the winners I’ve had lately, is special. To take nothing away from the likes of Willie (Mullins) and all of them, but when Charles’s ones are right, they’re right.”
Brouder notched a second win of the festival on Sunday when Treacysenniscorthy put in a bold front running performance in The William Fry Handicap Hurdle over 3 miles for trainer Robert Widger.
“He’s as tough as old boots,” said Kevin. “I had to keep him revving coming down the back as he got a bit lonely. At the second last I said ‘come up now I need you’, he winged it. Down to the last I needed a big one again, and I knew he would.”
Sunday’s feature was the Irish Gold Cup where Jack Kennedy showed his skill aboard the Gordon Elliott trained, Delta Work. The fizz of the crowd had barely settled following the epic reception for Faughen’s incredible win in the previous race when Kennedy had Delta Work switched off for most of the 3-mile trip. Kennedy then coaxed Delta Work into the race when it mattered to hold off Kemboy and Paul Townend.
“I got there going to the last and missed it. He pulled out a bit and wasn’t doing a whole pile up the straight. He’s improved from the last day and hopefully he can keep going in that direction,” said Kennedy.
In the next race Kennedy’s fortunes took a tumble when he was unseated from Dallas Des Pictons. The 20-year-old underwent surgery on Tuesday for a fractured femur in his right leg.
It’s been a rotten time for Kennedy of late with injuries. The Dingle rider was just back from a six week lay-off due to a collarbone break. Kennedy will now miss next month’s Cheltenham Festival.