Kerry jockey Jack Kennedy says it is an ‘unbelievable feeling’ to win National Hunt Champion Jockey title for the first time

Kennedy claimed the title with just two winners to spare over his good friend and great rival Paul Townend, having come into the Punchestown festival on Tuesday with a seven-winner lead.

Townend was actually the favourite to catch and pass the Kerry man across the five days, given the strong hand of runners he had from the Willie Mullins stable. However, while Townend rode six winners across the meeting, it wasn’t enough to overtake Kennedy for what would have been a seventh title for the Cork man and a sixth title in a row.

Kennedy could only watch on from the rail on Saturday as he was suspended for the final day of the season, and while Townend rode two winners – Kargese and Lossiemouth – it was nowhere near the five winners he needed to retain the title.

Kennedy had just the one winner all weekt, that was on Teahupoo for Gordon Elliott in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) on Thursday, and he hit the post with a couple of second place finishes. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old did enough over the season to win by a nose and be crowned champion jockey for the first time. He finished the campaign with 123 winners, two ahead of Townend with 121.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to have won the championship. Paul got close enough in recent weeks to give me loads of sleepless nights but I’m delighted to have hung on,” a delighted Kennedy said. “I’ve had a great twelve months, leading the championship for much of the way and riding over 100 winners in a season for the first time in my career. There was loads of great days and riding Grade 1 winners in Ireland on such good horses as Gerri Colombe, Teahupoo, Farren Glory, Found A Fifty, Caldwell Potter and Irish Point was very special.

“I can’t thank Gordon [Elliott], all the staff at Cullentra and his owners enough for the support they have given me. Thanks to my agent Kevin O’Ryan for getting me plenty of outside rides and winners this season - I really appreciate the opportunities from those trainers.

“I also have to give special thanks to Dr Jennifer Pugh, her medical team and my surgeon Paddy Kenny for all their expert medical care and looking after me so well over the last few years.”

Speaking of his jockey’s success, Meath trainer Elliott said: “I’m thrilled for Jack. We have been thinking about this day since he was 16. Unfortunately, he got a couple of hold-ups each year. Last year, he was clear but got hurt in Naas. We knew this year he was in good nick. He’s a lot stronger.

“I’m so happy. He deserves this more than anyone, with all the injuries that he’s had. He bounces back and that’s his attitude. Hopefully we’ll get another 10 or 15 years out of him.”

Meanwhile, there was more Kerry success at Punchestown on Saturday when Stumptown – owned by a Tralee syndicate – won the opening race, the Donohue Marquees Cross Country Steeplechase over 3 miles for trainer Gavin Cromwell under jockey Sean Flanagan. Having unseated Flanagan in a 4m 1f steeplechase at Punchestown on Thursday, the seven-year-old was entered again on Saturday and was an impressive five and a half length winner over an other Cromwell runner, Fameaftertheglory, winning at odds of 10/3.

“He was right there the other day and was going well [when taken out by a loose horse]. I suppose it was lucky enough that it wasn’t too far into the race that he could come back here today,” Cromwell said on Saturday.

“He actually benefited from the experience of the race the other day. He knew his job much better and has a future at this job. Sean said the other day he was inclined to jump over the hedges where today he flicked through them. He’s a very laid-back kind of horse and takes his races well. The second horse also ran well and we’ll probably keep him at this as well. They will both go on a summer break now.”

Stumptown is owned by George Savage, Ger Teahon, and brothers Garrett and Brian Dillon – all from Tralee.