Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Gold-en boy Kennedy in disbelief at winning jumping’s top prize
JACK Kennedy may only be 21, but he will have to go some to top what he declared as “the best day of my life” after winning the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup on Minella Indo.
Riding what was perceived as the Henry de Bromhead second-string, with Rachael Blackmore on A Plus Tard, Kennedy took chasing’s blue riband for the first time – and given the stables he rides for and his tender years, it is unlikely to be the last.
Do not for one minute, though, think Kennedy has been handed his privileged position on a plate. While he learned his trade on the competitive pony racing circuit in Ireland, since turning professional he has been beset by injury.
Having suffered no fewer than four broken legs and countless other broken bones, Kennedy has already missed many months of his career, but he will have plenty of opportunities to make up for lost time.
“That tops everything, without a doubt. It’s definitely the best day of my life,” said Kennedy.
“You dream about winning these races as a child. I know I’m still young, but I’ve been in the position to win them for a couple of years so it’s brilliant.
“I thought I had as good a chance as any horse in the race to be honest. I’d gone down to Henry’s to school him and a few of the lads there were fairly keen on him, so I was fairly confident going out.
“The fact that Rachael chose A Plus Tard took the pressure off me a bit as well, so it was great.”
Blackmore has not got much wrong this week, but despite winning the Albert Bartlett a couple of years ago on Minella Indo and coming close to winning what is now the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, she opted for Savills Chase winner A Plus Tard.
Kennedy could be seen wiping away tears of joy after crossing the line.
“I was emotional. This is massive and I can’t believe it’s happening to be honest. It means the world to me,” he said.
“I’ve broken my leg four times, I missed the meeting last year, but thankfully I’ve had a year this year that I’ll remember for a long time. Injuries can take their toll, but it could always be a lot worse at the same time, broken legs and collar bones heal. It’s unfortunate, but you just have to get on with it.
“It’s been great in the Irish bubble, so many lads have had their first winner here which is brilliant, we’re all in fairly good form in there.”
A stunning week for Blackmore was completed as she became the first woman to secure the coveted top jockeys’ award.
Six wins – including a history-making victory aboard Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday – have seen the 31-year-old rocket to the summit of the sport, earning plaudits from the likes of Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh.
Willie Mullins clinched the leading trainer title from Henry de Bromhead on countback as Galopin Des Champs won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, the final race of the meeting.