Kerry jockeys Jack Kennedy and Gavin Brouder ride winners for Elliott at Navan festival
Kennedy had five winners for the Meath trainer across the two days, while Brouder rode a 20/1 winner in a Group 3 handicap chase
Gavin Brouder and owner Francis Foran with the trophy for the Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase following the success of the Gordon Elliott-trained Stuzzikini at Navan on Sunday. Photo by Patrick McCann/Racing Post
There was success for two Kerry jockeys across both days of the Navan Racing Festival at the weekend with Jack Kennedy winning five races over Saturday and Sunday for trainer Gordon Elliott, who won eight of the 16 races on offer at his local track, while Listowel jockey Gavin Brouder rode the Elliott-trained Stuzzikini to victory in the Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase on Sunday.
With Brouder standing in for the sidelined Danny Gilligan, the 20/1 shot Stuzzikini, one of Elliott’s nine runners in the race, closed on the leaders at the fourth-last fence and led after the last to win by two and a half lengths from the John Ryan-trained 22/1 shot Lucid Dreams.
Elliott had earlier scored with Jack Kennedy’s mount The Yellow Clay in the Grade 3 John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle. Owned by Bective Stud, the 8/11 favourite scored a most taking success when trouncing Willie Mullins’ 4/1 chance Where’s My Jet by 10 lengths.
Another in the Bective Stud colours, Better Days Ahead won the Race And Stay Beginners Chase, Elliott’s eight winner of the weekend and a fifth for Kennedy. The 2/1 chance made all the running and comfortably saw off Henry de Bromhead’s Slade Steel, the 1/2 favourite, by four lengths.
Jack Kennedy aboard The Yellow Clay on their way to winning for trainer Gordon Elliott at Navan on Sunday. Photo by Patrick McCann/Racing Post
At Navan on Saturday, Elliott saddled five of the eight winners, beginning with the Jack Kennedy-ridden Wingmen in the opening Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles. The Bective Stud-owned 8/15 favourite made all the running to beat Henry de Bromhead’s 7/4 chance Forty Coats by an easy three lengths.
Kennedy was also in the saddle as 4/6 favourite Blue De Vassy, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, took the Grade 3 Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle in fine style. Leading at the second-last hurdle, he eased clear to beat Joseph O'Brien’s 8/1 chance Mt Percy by five lengths.
Kennedy completed a treble with taking the Grade 2 Bar One Racing on the promising Found A Fifty, another owned by Bective Stud. The 11/8 favourite jumped to his right at the final fence but he picked up well to deny O’Brien’s 12/1 chance Solness by a neck with the runner-up in receipt of 7lbs.
