Jack Kennedy recorded another big race win for Gordon Elliott with Ball D’Arc in the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse
Kennedy recently won the Lexus on Outlander and picked up another Grade 1 win with Death Duty last week and he was in the headlines again on Sunday
JACK KENNEDY landed another pot of gold with Ball D'Arc in the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.
Kennedy - flying the Gigginstown flag while injury-prone Bryan Cooper is again on the sidelines - is well on his way to staking a lucrative claim to be Michael O'Leary's No 1 jock.
He won the Lexus on Outlander and last week the 17-year-old gave Death Duty a classy ride to land another Grade 1.
Yesterday he rode another race to perfection with Gordon Elliott's Ball D'Arc in the day's big handicap.
Kennedy beamed: "He didn't miss a beat the whole way, bar the first fence across the bottom.
"He had plenty in hand. He did it fairly well and should progress from that."
Elliott added: "It's a nice pot to win and these are the races you want to be coming home first in.
"Jack gave him a peach of a ride. He was a bit unlucky at Leopardstown, although I'm still not sure he'd have won.
"The softer ground suited him well as it allowed him to get into a nice rhythm today.
"This was the obvious race to come to after Leopardstown.
"We might look at the Grand Annual for him but he is still a novice so the Ryanair Gold Cup, back here at Easter, could also be an option for him too."
Elliott and Kennedy recorded a double on the day after Barra opened her account over hurdles in the opening maiden.
Gigginstown's mare had previously finished second to two smart prospects in Invitation Only and Joey Sasa.
Elliott said: "She took on two very good geldings in her last two runs, and she was good in this. She stretched all the way to the line.
"There is a graded mares novice back here in a few weeks she may go for. It rode a good race today as they were flat out all the way."
Rookie trainer Ellmarie Holden also struck on the day as she teamed up with Rachael Blackmore to win the maiden hurdle with Ex Patriot.
Holden said: "I'm absolutely thrilled with that. It's his first run for me and he's been a pure machine at home over hurdles.
"Rachael gave him a great ride. We'll see how he is in the next few days but he could go for the Grade 1 Spring Hurdle next month."
