Jack Kennedy will "most definitely" be back for Festivals after leg injury

09 January 2023 , 13:48

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Jack Kennedy: broken leg is not as bad as first feared

Gordon Elliott has alllayed fears that Jack Kennedy would miss the Cheltenham Festival saying his stable jockey would “most definitely’ be there after breaking his leg on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Kennedy’s chances of riding at the fixture in nine weeks’ time appeared in major doubt after x-rays confirmed a below knee fracture.

Kennedy was riding Top Bandit when the pair came to grief at the fourth fence in the Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase won by Appreciate It.

Top Bandit was unfortunately fatally injured in the incident and Kennedy was stretchered off the track and transferred to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment.

Elliott said later in the afternoon the injury “didn’t look good” and Kennedy’s agent Kevin O’Ryan said x-rays had confirmed a lower leg fracture.

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But speaking on the Nick Luck Daily podcast on Monday, Elliott had better news on Kennedy.

Elliott said: “He is in good form. He got an x-ray last night and I think it's not as bad as we first thought. He is going to be looking at five or six weeks on the sidelines.”

Asked if Kennedy will be back in time for the key festivals, at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown, the trainer said: “I would say most definitely he will hopefully. He has to go back to the hospital next Friday and we will know more then.

“He was in Naas this morning where we were galloping the babies. He’s as keen as the lot of us to be back. He is in good spirits so hopefully he won’t be out too long. He’s so laid back and has a great temperament.”

Kennedy leads the Irish jump jockeys championship by 18 winners from five-time champion Paul Townend and has won three Grade 1 races this season, including the Savills Chase on Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate Conflated.

With Kennedy sidelined and Davy Russell having retired three weeks ago, Elliott is expected to turn to Jordan Gainford as his main rider.

Jon Lees