Jack Kennedy admits he was deeply flattered to hear Ruby Walsh recently describe him as having “one of the greatest minds in sport” for the resilience he has shown in bouncing back from breaking his leg six times.
The 26-year-old, who looks on course to regain the champion jockey crown he first won in 2024, has a brilliant book of rides for next month’s Cheltenham Festival and admits hearing such glowing praise from a racing legend like Walsh means plenty.
“It’s lovely to hear someone like Ruby saying things like that about you,” he said at a pre-Cheltenham press day at Gordon Elliott’s Meath base before rushing off to ride in Limerick on Tuesday. “I’m obviously very lucky with the position I’m in, in that when I come back I get to ride good horses, that’s a help.”
Asked how he finds the strength to respond to repeated adversity, the Dingle-born jockey replied: “I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else so that makes it easier. When it (a serious injury) happens, for the first few days, you’re a bit down but once a few days go by you don’t be long getting back up and trying to get back as soon as possible.” Speaking on ITV after Kennedy’s winning ride on Favori De Champdou in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase on Cheltenham Trials in day, columnist Walsh said: “He’s ridden down to those fences like a fella who has never had a fall in his life. His strength of mind — I marvel at it.”
Kennedy insists the fear of another bad break doesn’t enter his mind when he jumps on a horse but says if it ever does, he’ll know what to do.
“If a day comes that that does happen, that’ll be the time to pack it in but, thankfully, it hasn’t happened yet.”
Kennedy was still only 17 when Labaik gave him his first Cheltenham Festival success, winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2017.
Despite his injury travails, 11 winners have followed in the years since and Kennedy admits nothing compares to the buzz of riding a winner at Cheltenham.
“It’s in a different league, you grow up dreaming of riding winners there and thankfully I’ve been lucky enough to experience it a few times. But once you get one, you just want more. It’s different to anywhere else.”
All going well, Kennedy will be adding to his Festival haul next month but, given his history, it’s easy to understand his reluctance to look too far ahead.
“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then, hopefully we can stay in one piece.”
