Riverside City and Jack Kennedy (centre) jump the last alongside Georges Conn and about-to-fall Ballychorus © Photo Healy Racing
Sixteen year old Jack Kennedy became the youngest winning jockey of the Ladbrokes Troytown Chase at Navan today when steering the J.P. McManus owned Riverside City to lead home a 1-2 for trainer Gordon Elliott, who was also responsible for the 2014 winner.
Riverside City, under Kennedy's five pounds claim and a feather weight of 9st8lbs, moved into contention in the home straight and had the measure of final fence faller Ballychorus The son of Presenting then saw off the challenge of stablemate Georges Conn under Luke Dempsey, on the run-in.
Ballbriggan's win for Elliott in the 2014 renewal was gained in a 25 runner contest but in contrast just 13 lined up today and the race was also marred by the early fatal fall of Mullaghanoe River
Kennedy's own rise to prominence is almost hard to believe, considering he had his first racecourse ride just last May and missed all of September through injury.
Today the teenager, who turns 17 next April, was also completing a double for Elliott having earlier won on Baroque Style over hurdles. Kennedy was also riding his sixth winner this week and more notably, was also riding his first win over fences, from just five rides.
Afterwards Elliott stated "it's great to have the first and second and that's Jack's first winner over fences and he did everything right.
"This horse is as slow as a boat but he stays really well!"
Jack Kennedy, "It's nice to get my first winner over fences in such a big handicap. I've only had five rides over fences.
"I thought he had a good chance with such a light weight, and felt that he'd come on from the run in Cork. I was very lucky to avoid the fallers and had a few near misses."
By Tom Weekes quotes from Alan Magee
