Kennedy, Enright and Cooper ride winners

JACK Kennedy rode his first winner in over a month and his 10th of the season when teaming up with Gordon Elliott to win the beginners’ chase at Roscommon last Monday week. The 6/1 chance readily got the better of stable companion Flawless Escape to win by four lengths in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.

Kennedy can be expected to be a frequent visitor to the winners’ enclosure as the National Hunt season swings into gear and he landed a second winner in the week when Abacadabras scored an impressive success in the 2m maiden hurdle at Gowran Park on Friday. Kennedy had an easy time of it on the Elliott-trained 2/5 favourite, pulling away from his rivals from the second last flight to win by five and a half lengths from 7/2 chance Poseidon.

It was almost easier again as the pair doubled up when Tiger Twenty Two scored a nine length success in the 2m4f handicap hurdle. The 5/2 favourite was clear between the final two flights, but he had to survive a mistake at the last when the race was in safe keeping.

Kennedy then teamed up with Elliott at Gowran Park on Saturday to land the beginners’ chase on the card with the classy Dallas Des Pictons, the 4/9 favourite, which won unchallenged. His task was made all the easier by the departure of his main market rival Advantage Point at the fourth fence.

TRALEE jockey Phillip Enright partnered Davids Charm to a hugely impressive success in the Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary on Sunday. The admirable eight-year-old completed a hat-trick of wins for Doneraile trainer John Joe Walsh when sauntering to a 12-length victory. The 6/4 favourite was well on top between the final two flights and won eased down from the Joseph O’Brien-trained Plinth. The Tote Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh on Sunday is next on the agenda for the winner, which is owned by the Tom O’Brien Partnership.

Enright doubled up when he won the 2m handicap hurdle on the Tony Martin-trained Share The Honour. The 5/1 chance, in the colours of the Not Even Maybe Syndicate, got the better of the gabled on 6/5 favourite Jake Peter by two and a half lengths.

THE father and son team of Tom and Bryan Cooper scored a popular success with Lucky Phil in the Tote Backing Your Team Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday. Owned by the Always The Experts Syndicate, the 2/1 favourite came from a little off the pace but had loads in hand as she beat the Padraig Roche-trained Alice Johnston at Gowran Park on Friday.

KILLARNEY trainer Ian O’Connor won the concluding 12f handicap at Cork last Tuesday week with the Gearoid Brouder-ridden You’llfindandsee. The 20/1 chance went nicely clear over two furlongs from home and held off the late rally of Liars Corner to score by half a length. It was a first winner of the season for Gearoid, younger brother of Kevin.