IT is sometimes hard to believe that Jack Kennedy is only 24 years old given his sensational CV of big-race wins, and he reached another milestone at Downpatrick yesterday when recording his 500th winner under rules.

The 36-time Grade 1-winning rider got to the landmark figure thanks to a comfortable success on 2/1 favourite Yeats Star in the Northern Ireland On Course Bookmakers Association Maiden Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs.

Trained by Gordon Elliott, the four-year-old carried the colours of his breeder Bertie Mannion when scoring by 13 lengths, atoning for a previous narrow defeat at Roscommon.

Kennedy said: “He has been knocking on the door, so it is great for him to get off the mark. I’m delighted for Bertie as well. He’s had horses with Gordon through the years, so it is great to get a winner for him. We went a good gallop and this horse stays well.”

Kennedy and Elliott doubled up when Jenny Flex got off the mark over fences in the two-mile-three-furlong C Russell Auto Sales Beginners Chase.

The Robcour-owned mare showed little over hurdles but she finished second on both of her chase starts and got off the mark here when holding the late challenge of Zettabyte by just under two lengths.

“She did it well, the switch to fences has really brought out improvement in her,” Kennedy said.

“She enjoyed striding along there in front and jumped great. I let her pop the last and she came up out of my hands, so she was plenty fresh anyway at that point. She was idling up the hill, but I knew I was clear so I didn’t want to do anything stupid on her.”

Townend on target

Paul Townend made his only ride of the day a winning one aboard the Willie Mullins-trained Nt Field Minnesota (3/1) in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Owner Leo McArdle’s Flemensfirth mare had a scare on the first circuit but was able to assert clear by six and a half lengths at the business end of the extended two-mile-five-furlong contest.

“We were probably lucky not to be brought down when Kalanisi Flash fell in front of me - he kept sliding and I was running out of room to get around him,” said Townend.

“She was good and got herself out of it. She showed a turn of foot and the step up in trip really helped today.”

BUKHILL will go down as a memorable horse in the career of conditional jockey Eamonn Fitzgerald, having now provided him with two of his first three winners under rules following a gutsy victory in the McGrady Financial Services Novice Handicap Hurdle.

The Peter Fahey-trained five-year-old, owned by Peter McCarthy, had enough in reserve close home to repel Anthony McCann’s Starman by half a length at 4/1.

Fitzgerald said: “He’s been brilliant for me and I’m delighted to get the spin on him, he’s a smashing horse. He travelled like a dream and jumped well.

“I think he just got a little bit lonely up the straight and then went on again when the other horse came to me. He really tries hard and is very genuine.”

Sunset strikes

The Racing TV Handicap Hurdle went to Sea The Sunset (12/1) for Co Waterford owner-trainer John Morrison.

The four-year-old gelding took it up before the last and stayed on strongly up the hill for Shane Fitzgerald, five lengths clear of Skip Mahler at the line.

“He did it very well, he jumped super the whole way,” the winning rider said. “He had a good run at Navan the last day and is a nice horse going forward. We went a good gallop but he was good and tough.”

WICKLOW trainer Helen Markham made her trip to Downpatrick worthwhile when Greenway Machine (17/2) stayed on strongly up the hill for Cian Cullinan to take the concluding Toals Bookmakers Handicap Chase.

The Peter Killeen-owned 11-year-old had raced from a stone out of the weights when only 11 lengths off C’est Quelqu’un over this course and distance last month and he showed there was credence to that form with a win here, this time only 2lb out of the weights.

He took it up at the third last going well, held a five-length advantage at the last and was another who looked to be idling up the hill, as Full Noise closed the gap to a length and a half.

“He actually loves this track, so we came up for a 0-95,” said Markham

“He’s a lovely horse and a great horse to jump. Cian gave him a super ride, we’re delighted! The owner got stuck in traffic, he’s probably just in the car park somewhere.”

There was a cracking result in the J Murdoch Contracts Handicap Hurdle for owner-breeder-trainer Neill McCluskey, who sent out the first two home.

Moneynabane, nibbled at in the market and sent off at 9/2, opened his account by a clearcut six lengths under Philip Byrnes from stablemate Wee Jerry, who posted his best performance yet for his locally-based handler.

McCluskey said: “I’m delighted. They both ran well. Moneynabane was third on his last run here and the bit further today helped him, as well as the softer ground.”