JACK Kennedy might be on course for the first jockeys’ championship of his career this season, but he insists he would give it all up if offered the choice between the title and winning his second Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Gerri Colombe.

A campaign that started so brightly for Robcour’s high-class stayer with a win in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal met its first hiccup of sorts in the Savills Chase at Christmas when he ended up on the wrong end of a 23-length hammering from reigning Cheltenham hero Galopin Des Champs.

Gordon Elliott has opted to tighten the bolts at home on last season’s staying-on Brown Advisory second instead of running him again, feeling his Leopardstown second did not run to his full potential on the day.

When asked about where a possible title would rank alongside a Gold Cup triumph, championship leader Kennedy said: “I’d take the Gold Cup over the championship. One hundred percent. Definitely.

“It was class to win it on Minella Indo [in 2021]. Obviously, it’s a pity there was no-one there [due to Covid-19 restrictions], but the initial feeling I got when I crossed the line was the same as if the stands were packed. It was only the walk down the chute and things afterwards when you realised there was no-one there. It was a dream come true, but I’d love to [win it in front of people], so hopefully.

Galopin threat

“It’s going to be tough, but hopefully Gerri can. I definitely think he can get closer than he did to Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown. Hopefully he’ll be bang there.”

On what Cheltenham means to the 10-time Festival-winning rider, Kennedy added: “It’s a brilliant place. The track itself is tight but the atmosphere there is different. It’s definitely my favourite place to ride.

“The weighing room is quieter than everywhere else at Cheltenham. Everyone is just sort of in the zone. It’s a different feeling, but once you get settled into the whole thing, everyone loosens up a bit. Before the first, people are a bit tense.

“It depends on what sort of week you’re having. If you’re having a good week, the whole meeting flies by, but if it’s a bad week, it can be the longest week of your life. In 2019, I didn’t have any winner there and that was a long, long week.”

Kennedy was not in action at the meeting 12 months ago due to another luckless leg break at Naas earlier in the year.

“Last year was tough, and there’s a while to go yet, so hopefully I do make it there,” he said. “I’ll keep going as usual because when you start thinking about those things, that’s when something goes wrong.

Strong start

“It’s a big help if you can get one on the board early over there. It settles you into the week a bit better than if you’re left waiting for one. It’s a massive help if you can get one the first day.”

On the consistent backing of Elliott in his career, Kennedy reflected: “It’s unreal. Just being able to focus on getting back, knowing that you have good horses to come back to rather than wondering if you’re going to be able to get going again or not. It takes that out of the equation for me, which makes it a lot easier. We have the same ideas about things and seem to work well together. I’m sure he’s probably been unhappy with a few rides I’ve given around there. In 2019, the County Hurdle, I got a bit of a bollocking after that [on Eclair Du Beaufeu]... I got there too soon.”

Asked for his best chance of a winner at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, Kennedy barely bats an eyelid before responding.

“Brighterdaysahead. She does everything very easily, and with good horses … you get a different feel from them. You get that off her. Hopefully she keeps going the way she’s going. I wouldn’t swap her for anything else in the race.

“The team looks very strong. I’m lucky to be in that position, that I may have choices to make in different races, and I’m sure some of them will be tough, but it’s a great way to have it.”

King Of Kingsfield and Saint Felicien are put forward by the Kerryman as two of his strongest handicap hopes for the week.

Asked who he believes may be flying under the radar from Cullentra heading into the Festival, he added: “Found A Fifty is one that you’d be looking forward to [in the Arkle], and Firefox [in the Supreme] was obviously disappointing at Naas but is a very good horse. There’s plenty there.”