Jack Kennedy claims maiden Champion Jockey crown
Jockey hails 'brilliant' feeling after edging out Paul Townend in memorable battle
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Jack Kennedy finished two clear of Paul Townend and lifted the Champion Jockey trophy for the first time
The last few weeks have been nerve-wracking, so Iām delighted to get it done - Jack Kennedy
Jack Kennedy confessed to a mixture of relief and delight after being crowned Ireland’s Champion National Hunt Jockey for the first time.
Kennedy was suspended for the final day of the Punchestown Festival, which began with Paul Townend four behind – and a book of five rides ahead of him.
Victory on Lossiemouth in the opening Grade 1 of the day left Townend needing three from three but Glengouly was pulled up in the next, ensuring Kennedy could start the celebrations.
The Kerry man ends his historic season with 123 wins, two clear of Townend, whose 121 was also a personal best tally across a campaign.
“The last few weeks have been nerve-wracking, so I’m delighted to get it done,” Kennedy said.
“I didn’t (think I had done enough), to be honest. I’ve had a lot of luck on my side this week and it’s brilliant, unreal.
“I grew up with a dream of just being a jockey, never thought about becoming champion jockey until I became a jockey. Those two dreams have come true for me, it’s great.
“It has been an unbelievable season, whatever way the Championship was going to go, I’d had a great season. This is the icing on the cake, it’s brilliant.”
Kennedy has had to overcome a string of serious injuries in recent years which have denied him a serious tilt at the crown, including a broken leg when well set last season.
Victory on Teahupoo, who completed a Cheltenham-Punchestown Stayers Hurdle double on Thursday, proved to be the last in his superb season and trainer Gordon Elliott could not hide his delight at seeing his leading jockey claim the prize.
š£ļø "This is one of my happiest day's racing."@gelliott_racing salutes newly crowned Irish champion jockey @jackkennedy15 š¤
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 4, 2024
What might Kennedy's "little surprise" be, @ColmQuinn_bmw? š¤ pic.twitter.com/sO7Q9ObKJn
“We are all very proud of him at Cullentra,” he said. “This is one of my happiest days at racing, to see Jack crowned champion jockey after everything he’s been through after the past few years is brilliant.
“The first day he came in, we knew he was good. He’s never looked back, he knew what he wanted.
“Since Davy (Russell) retired, he’s twice the jockey, he’s not second guessing himself. It took that time for him to be ready for it and we are delighted to have him.
“All I wanted to do is make this man champion jockey and I’m happy.”
The battle between Kennedy and six-time champion Townend has kept the racing public gripped in the season’s closing weeks, with many suspecting the latter would pip his rival to the post with a stacked book of classy Punchestown rides.
He completed a Saturday Grade 1 double aboard Kargese but several other well-fancied mounts, most notably Galopin Des Champs and Gaelic Warrior, were unable to get the job done across the week.
Nonetheless, a gracious Townend said: “It has been a great competition between us and it added a bit of spice to the week.
“Fair play to Jack, he had a brilliant season. We both push each other.
“As much as we are trying to blank it out, it did catch the imagination and people were asking us about it when we went racing.
“There is no-one better to lose it to than Jack, he is such a grafter and deserves all the luck he gets.”
Elsewhere, a fine week for Gavin Cromwell continued as he landed a double with Stumptown and Will The Wise.
The former bounced back from being hampered by a loose horse when well set in the La Touche on Thursday to provide jockey Sean Flanagan with his third win of the Festival.
Mark McDonagh rode out his claim with a thrilling victory on 22/1 shot The Gradual Slope, a horse owned by his father, to provide trainer Sean O’Brien with his maiden Punchestown Festival triumph in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase.
Out of nowhere! š
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) May 4, 2024
The Gradual Slope flies up the home straight to land the @ColmQuinn_bmw Handicap Chase under @markmcdonagh15 š
A #PunchestownFestival winner for @SeanOOBrien špic.twitter.com/lEJmMebmN7
There were similarly tight finishes in the Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase, won by Minella Crooner following a late surge under Sam Ewing, and the SBK Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle, in which Chapeau De Soleil triumphed by a neck with Brian Hayes on board.