Jack Kennedy at the double

Just a week after registering his first racecourse success on Funny How in Cork, teenager Jack Kennedy hit the headlines with a double, on Eshtiaal and Mutadrik, for Gordon Elliott in Down Royal last night.

Kennedy (16), from Dingle, was champion rider on the pony-racing circuit three times. He has already made a big impression since making his debut under rules little more than three weeks ago.

Last night, he recorded his first win over hurdles when Eshtiaal, successful at Ballinrobe on Monday and 6lb. ‘well-in’ despite a mandatory penalty, justified 4/7 favouritism in the WorkPal Handicap Hurdle, before completing his first double on Mustadrik in the Sony Xperia Handicap Hurdle.