Jack Kennedy is blazing a trail in the jockeys' championship and today won on his fifth consecutive ride, providing trainer Gordon Elliott with an opening-races Down Royal double on Western Fold (9/2) in the Franciscan Well Novice Hurdle.

Carrying the colours of Weld-Spec (Glasgow) Ltd, the Westerner-gelding took advantage of leader D Art D Art s blunder at the third-last, staying on strongly to beat that rival by 15 lengths.

Kennedy, who won the opener on Elliott's 21-lengths victor Staffordshire Knot was riding his 95th winner this term and is 18 clear of six-time champion Paul Townend, as he chases his own first title.

Kennedy, who wore a black armband in memory of one of Elliott's owners Aidan Walsh, commented “he was keen with me two runs back and I rode him to get settled today.

"He did it well and will get further."

Quotes from Michael Graham