Fearless Jack Kennedy excited for impressive book of rides at Cheltenham

Jack Kennedy will be the envy of the majority of his weighing-room colleagues as he prepares to return to the Cheltenham Festival next month with an enviable book of rides.

Still only 26, Kennedy has suffered more than his fair share of injury setbacks over the years, breaking his leg on no less than six occasions.

Gordon Elliott’s stable jockey eventually won his race against time to be fit for the showpiece meeting last season, only to then sit out the final two days, but he has enjoyed a trouble-free campaign so far this term and is excited to be heading back to the Cotswolds fighting fit.

When asked to the describe the feeling of riding winners at the Cheltenham Festival, Kennedy said: “It’s in a different league. You grow up dreaming of riding winners there and thankfully I’ve been lucky enough to experience it a few times.

“Once you get one you just want more, it’s different to anywhere else.

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then, so hopefully we can stay in one piece.

“It’s definitely better than the way I was going in last year, so hopefully it will stay that way.”

It is nine years since a teenage Kennedy broke his Festival duck aboard the mercurial Labaik in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and his tally now stands at 11, with his most recent success achieved aboard Teahupoo in the 2024 Stayers’ Hurdle.

Despite his injury knocks, the former champion jockey’s prodigious talent is unquestionable, while Ruby Walsh recently hailed Kennedy’s mindset, saying: “He keeps putting it behind him and coming back. He’s ridden down to those fences like a fella who has never had a fall in his life. His strength of mind – I marvel at it.”

Kennedy was keen to play down the praise of a man who rode a record 59 Festival winners, however, saying: “I suppose it’s lovely to hear someone like Ruby saying things like that about you, (but) I’m very lucky with the position I’m in, I get to come back and ride very good horses, so that’s a help and I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. It makes it easier coming back.

“I suppose when it happens (injury) for the first few days you’re a bit down, but once a few days goes by you won’t be long until you brighten back up and trying to get back as soon as possible.”

When asked if fear ever enters his mind, he went on: “So far no, but I suppose if there is a day comes when that does happen it’s probably time to pack it in. Thankfully it hasn’t happened yet.”

Kennedy will be hoping to make a flying start to this year’s Festival, with the exciting El Cairos, top-class novice chaser Romeo Coolio and the brilliant mare Brighterdaysahead among his likely rides on day one.

El Cairos is a leading contender for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Romeo Coolio could contest the Arkle if conditions are deemed soft enough and Brighterdaysahead will be out to make it third time lucky at Cheltenham after winning the Irish equivalent at Leopardstown recently.

“I’m very lucky we have a lot of nice horses and I’m looking forward to it,” said Kennedy.

“El Cairos gives you a very good feel, he’s obviously a very fast horse, probably the fastest I’ve ridden anyway.

“He’s exciting and hopefully he’s on the up. I don’t have any worries about his jumping to be honest. He jumped very well in Thurles the last day and his mistake at the last was my fault, so I wouldn’t have any concerns.

“Romeo Coolio gives you a lovely feel. He’s very athletic and he’s just a good horse, you kind of know by sitting on him that he’s above average. If we had a few more like him it would be great.”

Brighterdaysahead has failed to run up to her best on two previous appearances at Prestbury Park and was particularly disappointing in the Champion Hurdle 12 months ago, but Kennedy has no explanation for that performance.

He added: “I suppose it’s hard to put your finger on anything really. She’d been very good in Leopardstown at Christmas last season and that might have just left its mark on her a little bit.

“She’s hopefully going there in good form this year.”