Valsorpresa win sees Kennedy go seven clear of Townend

Jack Kennedy stretched his lead over Paul Townend in the jockeys championship to seven when making all the running aboard Valsorpresa to win the opening Redweld Stables Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick.

A full-brother to Grade 1 winner Presenting Percy, the Gordon Elliott trained gelding was scoring for the first time in six starts.

Sent straight to the front from flag fall, the Philip Reynolds owned six-year-old jumped well at the head of affairs but appeared a sitting duck on the run to the final flight as a whole host of challengers emerged.

A big jump at the last enabled Kennedy to land running and once he asked for more, the Sir Percy gelding found plenty to stretch clear for an easy four-and-three-quarter lengths success.

Gordon Elliott said: "He hasn't been straightforward, he was a bit keen early on in his career.

"He's going to win plenty of races - he's no Presenting Percy (brother) and he's not the biggest in the world, but he's going to win plenty of races.

"I'd say it is beautiful ground as it always is in Downpatrick.

"All credit to Downpatrick, every time you come into the racecourse there is something new. New vets box, new stable yard, new trotting up area. I think a lot of racecourses could take a leaf out of their book.

"Paul (Townend) is going to be very hard beat (in jockeys' title race), he's got serious ammunition for Punchestown. I thought coming into today if he (Kennedy) rode another four winners he would have a chance. Another three to go and Paul would have to ride 11 to beat him."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.