'It's brilliant to get my first winner' - Jack Kennedy gets off the mark for the season

Jack Kennedy returned to action on Tuesday following an injury-interrupted 2024-25 season and got off the mark for the campaign in the 2m5f maiden hurdle on 11-8 favourite Kamikaz Du Plessis. 

“It's brilliant to get my first winner and luckily I didn’t have to wait too long,” said Kennedy, who was champion jockey two seasons ago.

Purchased for €78,000 as a three-year-old and runner-up on debut under rules in May, the Gordon Elliott-trained Kamikaz Du Plessis overcame notable signs of inexperience on the run-in to score by three and three-quarter lengths. 

Kennedy added of the Robcour-owned winner: “He's a very slick jumper and put the race to bed fairly easily. He was green in the straight and ran around a bit. 

"He’s a nice horse and hopefully there'll be more to come from him.”

Cusack back in the winner’s enclosure

Liam Cusack may have been inspired by Kennedy’s return to the winner’s enclosure to stage a reappearance there himself, and he took the first division of the 2m1½f handicap hurdle with 4-1 joint-favourite Highland Earl. 

The five-year-old came out on top in a battle with fellow market principal Prince Of Air, scoring by a head. A first winner for Cusack since January, Highland Earl was well backed from 14-1 in the morning and duly landed the gamble. 

“It's been a while but they've been running well,” said the trainer. “Highland Earl relaxed nicely today and got into a lovely rhythm. These races are hard to win, so I'm delighted he got his head in front. 

"I wouldn’t be afraid to go up a few furlongs in trip. He'll run in similar races to this and might even step forward again.”

Hayes rides a double

Highland Earl provided the first of two winners for Brian Hayes, whose second came in the beginners’ chase aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Fine Margin. 

The 4-1 chance was making his chasing debut. He rattled up a hat-trick over hurdles in Britain last season, but then disappointed at Worcester and Cheltenham.

He bounced back to form here, beating the 5-2 favourite HMS Seahorse by a length and a half, and in doing so caught some punters and even his assistant trainer Patrick Mullins slightly unawares.

“He surprised us a little bit with that performance," said Mullins. "Brian gave him a super ride, he's riding out of his skin. 

Patrick Mullins: 'Hopefully he can keep on surprising us'Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"He wants good ground so we'll keep him on the go and he might be one to go over to Cheltenham with for the October or November meeting. Hopefully he can keep on surprising us." 

Clarens wins again over fences

Clarens has upped his game since switching to fences and the eight-year-old made it three wins from five chase starts when readily bagging the 2m3½f handicap chase under Danny Gilligan.

Trainer John Flavin said of the 6-1 shot: “Since he started jumping fences he's turned inside out. That was his first time winning over that trip and he hit the line well, so that will open up some more options.”

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.