Speaking exclusively to BoyleSports, Irish champion jockey title-chasing Jack Kennedy has lifted the lid on his battle with Paul Townend for the prestigious accolade.
Kennedy, who turned 25 this week, is retained rider for powerhouse Irish trainer Gordon Elliott who hasn’t been able to overhaul Willie Mullins’ dominance this season.
The Co. Kerry native has revealed what ride will give him the best chance of a winner at the Punchestown Festival, how many winners he is targeting to take home the crown of Irish Champion jockey, Caldwell Potter’s potential plus more.
Jack Kennedy’s Best Ride at Punchestown Festival
You can’t do that really. If I can get a couple of winners it would be great, but we’ll have to see how things unfold. I have had a fair few rides this season and I will keep going anywhere to see if I can win the title.
You can’t leave any opportunity open to keep ahead of Paul - I have had more than 500 rides this season.
I have some good rides coming up. I just hope I have a good meeting and come out uninjured. My best ride is probably Teahupoo in the Stayers Hurdle on Thursday at Punchestown.
*Teahupoo is the Evens favourite for the Punchestown Champion Stayers’ Hurdle per the latest Punchestown odds at BoyleSports
The Number of Winners Needed For Irish Jockeys Championship
It is going to be very tight. Paul Townend will be very strong at Punchestown with the ammunition that he has through Willie [Mullins]. It will be very tough but I will not give up without a good fight. I will throw everything at it.
It would mean the world to win the title for the first time after the things I’ve been through. It is something everybody wants to do. It would be a dream come true from when I was a young boy.
I can’t say who is going to be favourite. I am hoping I will be able to hold off Paul but it will be a close run thing. The season ends on May 4, so if I can go into Punchestown with a lead of say eight or ten then I think I will have a chance.
I’d say 130-135 winners will do it – I am not going to die wondering, that’s for certain. I am going for it.
*Jack Kennedy is 2/1 to win the Irish National Hunt Jockeys Championship per the latest horse racing odds at BoyleSports.
The Paul Townend Rivalry
We are friends and rivals but we get on really well. I sit next to him at most places at the races in the weighing room. There is some real good banter especially as it is so tight at the moment.
We have a craic about it beforehand but when we get on the racecourse it is down to business. He tries to wind me up but it doesn’t work!
Caldwell Potter Has Chance To Be Superstar For Sir Alex Ferguson
I rode him a couple of times to win and I was very sad to see him go. Sir Alex has probably got a superstar on his hands, we certainly liked him a lot. Hopefully he is lucky for them.
Whatever he was doing over hurdles he would be a better chaser down the line. It was very disappointing to see him go but we’ll just have to find the next one.
I’d Love to Know Willie Mullins’ Secret to Success
Obviously I’d like to be beating him more! But it is not something I would be complaining about. You just have to tip your hat to him. He is remarkable, unbelievable. I just have to make the most of any opportunities that come my way.
But, that is not easy! He has such strength in depth and the quality he has is huge. You just keep trying your hardest. We will just have to try and build on the quality we have got to catch him.
Willie winning the British and Irish trainers title is a massive achievement. I’d love to know his secret - everyone would! It really takes some doing.
He will have some real firepower this year at Punchestown too. But, we have some nice ones going to Punchestown, we’ll only find out when we get there who’ll come out on top.
The Mental Challenge of Life As a Jockey
I am still very laid back. I have been busy learning the riding and trying to get better all the time.
The mental side can be tough especially as I have broken my leg five times. But really it is something you sign up to when you become a jockey, you know there’s going to be injuries.
At Tipperary on Tuesday, I rode Morepowertoya for my 600th winner. If that was the option I was to be offered when I was a child, I would take the five broken legs for 600 winners, no bother!
I won’t be celebrating to be honest as it’s a funny number. Maybe I will wait till I get to a thousand. That’s my first target, then after that as many as I can.
You can’t feel invincible because you know the risks. But they are outweighed by the rewards racing can give you.
Plan For Life After Being A Jockey
Touch wood, I am making a good living. I bought a house when I was 21 and before that myself and my brother Paddy bought a farm together when I was 18 in Kildare.
We break and pre-train horses on the land. We have built a barn and put in a gallop.
It’s important to think ahead over the longer term.
Paddy has stopped riding now as he got a bad injury in 2021. He is working at home full-time breaking and pre-training, but I am not as busy on it because of my focus on racing.
It is something that when the day does come, when I am finished riding, hopefully we will have built up something for the future. It is going well for us. We pre-train mostly for Gordon [Elliott] but anyone can send us a horse. The door is always open!
We have 28 at the moment but we will get busier in the summer with just over 40.
Three Factors Involved In Irish Racing Dominance
It is a combination of prize money, good owners and trainers. The wheel always turns so we had better enjoy it while we can.
Riding in Ireland currently, it’s great. There is such a buzz about the place but for me to be riding at all wherever it is a pleasure.
I would never want to do anything else. Like anyone in any job, if you have a bad day or are going through a bad spell you might think you wouldn’t mind looking at something else and have a day off now and again. I wouldn’t change anything.
Life Away From The Racecourse
I was away in January for two or three days playing golf. I like golf, but I wouldn’t be very good at it - it’s a chance to get away now and again and I don’t have a handicap. I just play away there.
During the winter I do a bit of hunting - my life is basically on a horse!
I’m a GAA Man Over Football - And I’m Not a Fan of Taylor Swift
I don’t have any particular genre of music I listen to, I like a bit of everything. I am certainly not a Swiftie!
I don’t really follow soccer either. Coming from Kerry I am a GAA man, I’m not into the football.
You Won’t See Me On Dancing With The Stars Like Davy Russell
No, definitely not! I can’t dance. Remember I’ve broken my leg a few times! Davy would have got a lot of stick in the weighing room.
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