Jack Kennedy’s great run of success saw him move to the head of the jump jockeys’ championship for the first time this season as he shared a double with Gordon Elliott at Thurles on Thursday. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Brighterdaysahead took the two-mile mares’ maiden hurdle to give the pair their opening win. A 1/4 favourite, the four-year-old made all the running and, although pushed along briefly on the band past the stands, she ran out an easy winner, coming home 10 lengths clear of the Charles Byrnes-trained Shoot Champagne. Winner of the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase in 2021 for Noel Meade, the Kennedy-ridden Beacon Edge made a winning start for Elliott when taking the He´llberemembered Hurdle. The 11/4 chance, another owned by Gigginstown House Stud, got the better of Willie Mullins’ front-runner Cash Back after the last hurdle to win by a length and a quarter. The winners put Kennedy on the 36-winner mark, one ahead of both Keith Donoghue and Patrick Mullins, the early pacesetter.
At Limerick on Saturday, Phillip Enright won the two-mile five-furlong handicap hurdle on the Sam Curling-trained Ishan. One of the easiest winners of the day, the Pius Collins-owned 2/1 favourite led before the second-last hurdle and raced clear to score by nine and a half lengths from the David Fitzgerald-trained He Fitz In.
Jack Kennedy’s overnight dash from New Jersey to Limerick didn’t yield any great dividends. However, Gordon Elliott added to the Saturday night treble he shared with Kennedy at Far Hills when winning the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase with the Ricky Doyle-ridden Gevrey on Sunday. In the colours of Denis Gallagher Racing, the 6/1 chance raced up with the pace and asserted before the final fence as he beat Henry de Bromhead’s Largy Debut by two and a quarter lengths. In America on Saturday, Kennedy and Elliott had landed a treble with Kyogo, Calico and Say Goodbye.
Upcoming Fixtures
Curragh – Wednesday, October 25 (First Race 1.05pm)
Clonmel – Thursday, October 26 (First Race 2pm)
Dundalk – Friday, October 27 (First Race 5.30pm)
Sligo – Friday, October 27 (First Race 1.50pm)
Galway – Saturday, October 28 (First Race 1.55pm)
Galway – Sunday, October 29 (First Race 12.40pm)
Wexford – Sunday, October 29 (First Race 1pm)
Beacon Edge (centre) has the front-running Cash Back in his sights before winning for Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott at Thurles on Thursday. Photo: Caroline Norris/Racing Post
