'It’s fairytale stuff': Assemble wins Kerry National under Buttevant jockey Shane Fitzgerald

Starting at 9-1, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding travelled neatly behind the leaders, avoiding any trouble and throwing down a challenge with two fences remaining

Shane Fitzgerald winner the Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase on Assemble. Picutre: INPHO/Bryan Keane

Buttevant jockey Shane Fitzgerald’s ascent up the riding ranks took a significant step forward when he gave Assemble a tremendously confident ride to take the Guinness Kerry National, the feature of the week at Listowel’s Harvest Festival.

Leading point to point novice rider in 2017 and 2018, it was as recently as May that Fitzgerald won on his first ride as a professional jockey, and just a couple of months later he recorded his first treble, also at Clonmel.