The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
These days it’s about getting on with the job for Kennedy
Jack Kennedy chats with Stephen Fernane ahead of Cheltenham and reflects on some of his main chances at next week’s festival
THIS time last year Jack Kennedy was still in the ‘will he, won’t he’ category as a first win at jump racing’s Holy Grail was still a pipe-dream. But in true Kennedy style in the very first race on the opening day of the festival, he fulfilled his dream in dazzling style when scarcely drawing a whip on the stubborn grey Labaik in the ultra-competitive Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
“That was really a dream come true to be honest. Labaik had the ability but could be stubborn at the start of his races. But he did it well that day. A few more wins at this year’s festival would be nice too,” Jack told The Kerryman.
Much has happened away from Cheltenham since that day as Jack’s graph of success continues skywards. At the time of writing he has ridden over 55 winners, the majority for trainer Gordon Elliott in the Gigginstown colours. Moreover, some of those wins have come during memorable weekends at Nass and Navan where he rode doubles and trebles to beat the band.
You also get a sense these days that Jack is probably done with all the platitudes and talk of his precocious rise through the ranks of jump racing to become one of the sport’s best jockeys. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate it, it’s just he’s now more content with the tag of being a professional just doing his day to day job with minimal fuss.
Even at the height of his powers Kennedy remains a consummate gentleman and never refuses a call for an interview when asked. Always focused. Always polite. Professional in every sense. Back in 2016 when I first called him for an interview - still only 16 and 3Ib left in his claim - he asked would I mind calling back after 4pm as he was sweeping the yard at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House Stables. Today, he still sweeps all before him for the same trainer but does so on the racetrack.
The Dingle man is booked for a couple of decent rides at next week’s festival and the one that immediately springs to mind is the novice Samcro - a horse Gordan
Elliott said is fast becoming ‘the people’s horse’ as they wait with interest to see if he really is the real deal. But Elliott warns that Samcro must keep improving ahead of his run in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle next Wednesday, a view shared by Kennedy.
“He’s going to have to improve again as nothing has really taken him on as yet,” said Jack. “It’ll be interesting to see how he copes with the Nicky Henderson horse, On the Blindside, who also looks very good. We won’t be taking anything for granted and while Samcro gives you a great feeling, jumps well, and is a nice horse, he still needs to improve.”
The redoubtable mare Apple’s Jade is another of Jack’s mounts. A winner of last year’s mares’ hurdle when showing all her toughness battling it out between Limini and Vroum Vroum Mag under a strong ride by Bryan Cooper. All’s set again for another tilt at the mares’ race. But there’s still rumours that she may yet go for the Stayers’ Hurdle over 3m.
“She’s one of those horses that’s been there and done it before so hopefully she can do it again this year as she’s a fantastic horse. She’s not overly big but she is tough, as her past races have shown. She’ll definitely go for the mares’ hurdle,” said Jack.
Mengli Khan is another who will appreciate nice ground. Jack has ridden him to victory three times already this season and he’s one Gordon Elliott said would be ‘very hard to beat again’ if he gets his ground. He’s entered in the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (10/1).
“He’ll have to reverse the form with Getabird who beat him back in January at Punchestown. I’m not sure where he will find the 9 lengths improvement needed from that race. He’ll also have to handle the track as well which adds its own challenges. There’s also a feeling he could be better going right-handed,” the Dingle man said.
For all Elliott’s strength in depth, his hand has been relatively weak in terms of a solid Gold Cup contender since the retirement of Don Cossack. Mala Beach is a best priced 50/1 shot, while multiple Grade 1 winner Outlander is easy to back at 33/1. Outlander gave Kennedy his first Grade 1 win and career century in the 2016 Lexus Chase. The Stowaway gelding made little impression in last year’s Gold Cup (good) under Bryan Cooper when never travelling strongly. All his wins have come on soft/yielding/heavy surfaces and his form this season reads: pu71332. However, he has beaten the main Gigginstown Gold Cup contender, Road to Respect, in the past. The latter is currently as short as 9/1.
“He can handle nice ground and it would be nice if he could go well. Even though it’s a wide open Gold Cup this year, god only knows which Outlander will turn up on the day. To be honest I’d be surprised if he won it. I’m just hoping he can run a big race.”
Lastly, Farclas is another of the Elliott string who goes in Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle. He finished second in both starts in Ireland (soft and heavy) and his only win came in Clairefontaine in France on good ground, which may well be the sort of surface he can expect at Cheltenham. He’s currently 7/1. But does he have a chance?
“He’s a nice horse and he’s had two decent runs, both at Leopardstown,” Kennedy said. “But he’s another who will have to improve if he is to reverse the form with Mr Adjudicator. If he does that he also has Apple’s Shakira to see off, who is going to be very hard to beat. Gordon said everything Farclas has done at home he has done well, so we’ll see,”