Champion jockey Jack Kennedy returned from a costly recent suspension when steering the Gordon Elliott-trained, Gigginstown House Stud-owned Croke Park to justify 2/5 favouritism in landing Fairyhouse's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase today.

Kennedy, who ended Paul Townend's bid for six consecutive jockeys' championships last May, has sat-out lengthy suspensions this term and having missed six Elliott-trained winners last weekend, today returned on Grade 3 winning-hurdler Croke Park which made all on his chase debut to snugly account for Irish Emery.

Elliott later reported “it was grand, Jack said he was only doing what he had to do and was very idle in front but there is a lot of improvement in him. It's a nice starting point. He'll go with an ease in the ground as well.

“He won a Grade 3 in Navan last year and we had a few problems after. We'll see how he us and see where he slots in, we've plenty of horses for that division. He could end up back here in the Drinmore, it wouldn't shock me.”

Quotes from Gary Carson