Jack Kennedy will join the list of 17-year-old’s to ride in the Grand National, when he saddles Gordon Elliott’s Roi Des Francs in the main event on Saturday afternoon.
Kennedy hit the headlines over here in England when he rode Labaik to victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the first race of the Cheltenham Festival, but in Ireland, the young jockey’s reputation has steadily been building, thanks to some stunning victories and the incredible consistency and natural talent for riding he shows on a daily basis.
He is widely expected to take up the mantle the likes of Ruby Walsh and A.P. McCoy have carried for the last few decades and become the best jockey on National Hunt scene. His journey towards greatness will start on Saturday afternoon, when he will ride out in the Grand National for the very first time and the young Irishman has spoken of his excitement with the press at the start of the week.
“It’s my first ride in the race and obviously I’m very excited. I was riding at Aintree last year and walked the track.” Kennedy said to the Racing Post. “Roi Des Francs will be a nice spin. He got a confidence booster the last day when he won at Down Royal so hopefully he will run well. The race is a lottery and all I am hoping for is a good run.”
Sam Twiston-Davies, Sean Bowen and Joe Tizzard all made their Grand National debuts at the age of 17 and, if Kennedy can guide 50/1 shot Roi Des Francs to victory at the weekend, he will emulate the great Bruce Hobbs, who was 17 when he guided Battleship to the title in 1938.
