Speaking on the Unbridled podcast, Jack Kennedy says he has a 75 per cent chance of being fit to ride at the Cheltenham Festival after breaking his leg for the sixth time in November.
Kennedy has been in recovery mode ever since he parted company with Twoohthree at Fairyhouse last year, and says his treatment is going well as he prepares for yet another comeback just in time for the Cheltenham Festival.
The 25-year-old Irishman, dubbed ‘the Lionel Messi of Ireland’ by countryman Paddy Brennan, said: “It’s going well, the physios and surgeon are happy with it. I’m back to the hospital on the 25th of this month and I’ll hopefully know more then.
“I’m probably not a great patient. Last time I tried to do too much too soon and set myself back so I haven’t done that this time. I can’t sit about the house, I have to be doing stuff all the time and can’t settle when I’m off.”
Kennedy has missed out on big rides at the Prestbury Park showpiece before, notably in 2023 when he was sidelined for Teahupoo’s Stayers’ Hurdle triumph, being replaced in the plate by Davy Russell.
He said: “In my own head, it is [on]. I was that way two years ago and didn’t make it but I’m in a lot better place this time around, a lot further along – hopefully anyway, fingers crossed. I’ve got a small bit of a limp but I’ve had that anyway from one of the other breaks. I’m off the crutches and physio’s starting to ramp up now. It’s tough but it’s got to be done.”
He added: “I kind of accepted it fairly early on so whatever happens, happens. I know I haven’t made Cheltenham yet but it’s looking like I hopefully could when two years ago I was in complete denial about the whole thing. I was never making Cheltenham but I couldn’t accept it.”
Kennedy is now once again subject to regular rehabilitation sessions, which will continue until he is strong enough to return to the saddle.
“It’s all leg exercises with the physio Gavin Egan, then Wayne Middleton afterwards for strength and conditioning. I just do what they tell me, I don’t know what will be thrown at me when I go in,” he added.
There is of course plenty of external noise surrounding the 2021 Gold Cup winner’s capability to keep coming back from serious injuries, but the questions do not seem to bother the rider who has operated at a 19 per cent strike-rate in Ireland over the last 12 months.
Kennedy celebrates Cheltenham Gold Cup glory aboard Minella Indo in 2021
“I don’t take too much notice of it. It’s all part of the job and it’s what you sign up to,” he said. “I’ve probably had a few more breaks than a lot of people but it’s what you sign up for, I’d say.”
During his absence, Kennedy has had to watch Gordon Elliott’s charges triumph from his sofa, perhaps contemplating whether he will regain the rides on his return.
He said: “Nothing’s ever certain about getting back on them but I’ll be hoping I would, anyway. There’s kind of two sides to it. Obviously you’re sickened to be missing them but you want them to go and perform like that because if I get back on them, you want to be getting back on good horses. It is a bit sickening to be missing out on them though, yeah.”
One horse Kennedy will be keen to be available to ride is the fine Gigginstown mare Brighterdaysahead, who was beaten by Golden Ace in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle last term. Since, she has progressed with flying colours, notching Grade One success in the Morgiana Hurdle and Neville Hotels Hurdle after a successful seasonal reappearance at Down Royal.
“I’ve always loved her, yeah. I know it wasn’t my finest moment at Cheltenham but I’m still not sure how she got beat [in the Ryanair]. She’s a lovely mare and has plenty of talent. I’d have let her on [in the Ryanair], but she was a bit keen and I tried to get her settled rather than just letting her stride along.
“However, I suppose then you’ve the other side of it – she probably didn’t look too comfortable up front in the Morgiana and maybe it might have got her beat if I’d let her go on. I suppose there’s a hundred different things you could try but we went the way we did and it got her beat.”
It is riding these top-level horses that drives Kennedy to get fit again, especially after a weekend glued to coverage of the Dublin Racing Festival.
In terms of impressive horses at the meeting, Kennedy picked out two that caught his eye.
“The obvious one is Galopin Des Champs but I thought Kopek Des Bordes was very good.”
When asked about the probability of being available to face them in March, he replied: “I don’t know, maybe 75 per cent.”
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