Jack Kennedy is one of the stars of the Irish weighing room and a Gold Cup winner at the Cheltenham Festival courtesy of Minella Indo in 2021.
The Co Kerry native has a number of Grade 1 wins on both sides of the Irish Sea and was crowned champion jockey in his native land for the first time at the end of the 2023/2024 season.
Age: 25 |
Height: 5ft 9" |
Wins: 630 |
Cheltenham Festival wins: 12 |
Total winnings: £9,372,000 |
Net worth: Unknown |
Born in Dingle, Co Kerry, Jack Kennedy became a teenage sensation in the saddle after becoming a graduate of the pony racing circuit. He won the famous Dingle Derby on Coola Boula in 2014 in his home town and was soon bound for the racecourse proper.
After starting out with Tommy Stack in his home county, Kennedy made the move to join the Elliott team at Cullentra in 2015.
His first winner came on just his seventh ride when partnering the Pat Flynn-trained Funny How to win a seven-furlong handicap at Cork.
His first winner over fences was Riverside City in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan in November 2015, a day on which he rode a treble.
He landed his first Grade 1 success when partnering the Elliott-trained Outlander to win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas in 2016.
He then enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival winner aged just 17, steering outsider Labaik to glory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle for Elliott in 2017.
Kennedy has suffered more than his share of injuries, missing the Cheltenham Festival in both 2020 and 2023, while he is currently on the mend after suffering a broken leg at Fairyhouse in November, the sixth time in his career he has suffered a broken leg.
His tally of 123 winners in the 2023/24 National Hunt season saw him dethrone Paul Townend to become champion jockey for the first time.
Kennedy is 5ft 9" tall, about average for a jockey.
Kennedy has 12 Cheltenham Festival winners on his CV. In 2018 he partnered four winners at the meeting, but was denied the title of top jockey by Davy Russell, who had more placed horses.
Samcro, Farclas, Shattered Love and Veneer Of Charm all scored in the Cotswolds that season, while Kennedy matched that tally in 2021, only to be denied on that occasion by Rachael Blackmore's six winners.
Kennedy did, however, win the Gold Cup that season, partnering Minella Indo for trainer Henry de Bromhead after Blackmore overlooked him in favour of A Plus Tard, on whom she would finish second that year.
He has amassed seven Grade 1 wins at the Cotswolds showpiece to date, including Teahupoo in the 2024 Stayers' Hurdle.
He also has five Grade 1 wins at Aintree's Grand National meeting, as well as many top-level successes in Ireland, including the Irish Gold Cup on Delta Work and the Irish Champion Hurdle on Apple's Jade, both for owner Gigginstown House Stud.
Kennedy rides many of the top horses for owner Michael O'Leary and Gigginstown, more so since Russell retired from the saddle.
Kennedy is the main rider for Elliott's operation at Cullentra House. He has first pick of the battalion of horses Elliott sends to the major meetings across the UK and Ireland.
When he isn't riding for Elliott, Kennedy is a wanted commodity and he has partnered winners for the likes of De Bromhead, Jessica Harrington, Noel Meade, Gavin Cromwell, Tony Martin and Joseph O'Brien.
Minella Indo gave Kennedy his Gold Cup breakout, though it was the only time in his career he partnered the horse.
Apple's Jade, Samcro, Shattered Love, Death Duty, Battleoverdoyen and Delta Work are some of the other big names he has partnered in the maroon and white Gigginstown silks.
He won an Irish Gold Cup on Delta Work in 2020 and famously partnered him to glory in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022 when stablemate Tiger Roll was second on his final start, leaving Kennedy to declare he felt like a bit of a villain.
Kennedy has also starred for Elliott in the colours of owners Robcour and Bective Stud, with Teahupoo landing the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2024 for the former.