JOCKEY Jack Kennedy landed his first double last Friday night on board Gordon Elliott’s Eshtiaal and Mustadrik at Down Royal.
After huge success in pony racing, the Dingle teenager is starting to make waves in his new career.
Eshtiaal got the ball rolling in The Workpal Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles. The five-year-old gelding won in Ballinrobe four days previously by nine and a half lengths and easily defied the mandatory 6lb penalty in Down Royal.
He progressed to lead at the second last and was ridden clear by Kennedy to come home 11 lengths to the good and justify 4/7 favouritism.
Elliott said: “Jack’s a good lad and that’s his first winner over hurdles. Eshtiaal is in again over the weekend [won at Tramore on Saturday]. He is owned by two soccer agents (Will Salthouse and Mark McKay) from England.”
In the following two and a half mile handicap hurdle for horses rated 80-95, bottom-weight Mustadrik had an even easier time of it when romping home by 17 lengths.
Richard Gilbert’s four-year-old colt was sent off the 10/3 favourite and the result was never in doubt once he got to the front at the third last.
On asked about race riding, Kennedy said: “I love it! Gordon has been very good to me. All the lads in the yard have been helping me.”
Elliott added: “I won’t be letting him ride for too many others! Mustadrik goes to Kilbeggan on Sunday with a mandatory penalty [he won there by nine lengths].”
Robbie Power was another jockey to post a double on the card. In the opening maiden hurdle he led at the second flight on New World and the pair moved clear at the fourth. The 2/1 shot then coasted in by seven and a half lengths.
Trainer Keith Clarke said of the six-year-old: “He’s a proper horse and it’s the first time he has got his ground. He’s a good ground horse. He’s had a few issues. He got a quarter crack at Thurles after jumping the first. Credit must go to farrier Anthony Lynch who has got him back.
“I had him fit but he would have needed that and there’s more to come. I think a lot of him and he’ll make a nice chaser.
“Special thanks go to Michael Tanner who looks after Mrs Embiricos’ business in Ireland. I’ve had the horse since he was a three-year-old and connections have been very patient. I have two in training for Mrs Embiricos and 15 in total.”
Power had to work harder on Medinah Gold (5/1) in the three mile handicap hurdle. He had a willing partner though, who kept finding more for pressure to win by a length and three-parts from Colms Dream.
Handler Peter Fahey said: “I’m delighted for this horse. His jumping last year was very poor. He’ll go for a little handicap over two and a half miles or three miles. Tom Keane selected him for the Festival Dreamers Syndicate and he’s part of it. The majority of them are from Galway and Dublin.”
Ballychorus gave her supporters a couple of worrying moments at the final two fences in the beginners’ chase but she made all and sealed a comfortable six-length victory for Mags and Danny Mullins.
Danny Mullins, in the Barry Connell colours, said of the 5/2 shot: “It was easy enough. She let fly at one or two but she’ll be a nice summer novice.”
As De Pique (4/1) stepped up on his recent second place in Punchestown when beating the 11/8 favourite Five O’Clock Tea by six and a half lengths in the two and a half mile handicap chase. This gave Navan native James ‘Brien’ Kane (22) his landmark first win as a jockey.
Trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “I’m delighted with that. He could go to Punchestown on Wednesday. I’ve always loved him, and bought him for small money. I won a point-to-point with him. He had problems and had been off the track for over 400 days before his comeback run in Punchestown.”
“Brien came to work for me four months ago. That’s his second ride over fences and his first came on this horse in Punchestown.”
Glacial Drift and Declan Queally mowed down front-running favourite Kalopsia in the bumper to give Catherine Magnier her first success as an owner.
The 16/1 chance prevailed by a short-head on her debut and afterwards her trainer Tom Taaffe commented: “This is a good filly and she’s very well-bred. We bought her in Tattersalls in December and she’s a half-sister to Wicklow Brave. She’ll probably go for a winners’ bumper. She’s only four.”
The gamble on Man Of Conquest (8/1 to 4/1) was foiled as he finished fifth.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. S. Martin, C. Cunningham, J. Hunt, Dr J.F. Gillespie, H. Hynes
HORSE TO FOLLOW
AND THE NEW (S.R.B Crawford): The two that finished in front of him look smart horses. For him to be seven lengths in front of the fourth horse is promising on debut. He can win a bumper.
Riding ban
Robert Power was banned for three days for careless riding, causing interference between the third last and the penultimate hurdle involving his mount Medinah Gold and Colms Dream, ridden by Donagh Meyler.