Jack Kennedy’s super run of success continued at Punchestown on Thursday when he won the near three-mile beginners' chase on the four-year-old Kurasso Blue. Owned by Robcour and trained by Gordon Elliott, the 7/2 chance led after halfway and sealed the deal with a fine jump at the final fence to beat Willie Mullins’ 5/1 shot Ballygunner Castle by a length and a half.
Kennedy and Elliott brought their outstanding form to Fairyhouse on Saturday where they shared three more winners. The pair won the opening two-mile beginners' chase with the 100/30 chance Jacob’s Ladder which raced up with the pace and asserted from the second-last fence to beat the Willie Mullins-trained 5/2 joint-favourite Karoline Banbou by four and a quarter lengths for owners Gigginstown House Stud. The very well-supported 6/4 favourite The Enabler romped to a 15-length success in the rated novice chase over two miles and five furlongs to give Elliott and Kennedy a second success. Also in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, he made much of the running and went on from the third-last fence for a most comfortable win over Ross O'Sullivan’s 6/1 shot Talk In The Park. Bally Free, another at odds of 100/30, scored a battling win in the three-mile maiden hurdle to complete the trebles. The five-year-old had to dig deep from the final hurdle to hold the Emmet Mullins-trained 12/1 chance Melbourne Shamrock by a head.
At odds of 40/1, the Gavin Brouder-ridden Quest With Speed won the two and a half-mile handicap hurdle for owner/breeder William Carroll and trainer Shark Hanlon at Navan on Sunday. The eight-year-old made much of the running and went on before the final hurdle to beat Oliver McKiernan’s 12/1 chance Collaborative, ridden by Phillip Enright, by a length and a half.
Upcoming Fixtures
Dundalk – Wednesday, December 17 (First race 4.55pm)
Dundalk – Friday, December 19 (First race 5pm)
Thurles – Saturday, December 20 (First race 12.12pm)
(Photo: Jack Kennedy and Kurasso Blue fly the final fence to win for Gordon Elliott at Punchestown on Thursday. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post)
