JACK Kennedy returned from serious leg injury with a first winner in six months at Tipperary on Tuesday, steering I A Connect to win Tipperary’s appropriately titled Equuip - A Leg Up For Thoroughbred People Beginners Chase.

Kennedy fractured his right tibia and fibula in a fall at Naas on January 5th and having missed the Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals, returned with three unsuccessful rides at Cartmel last Sunday.

On the Gordon Elliott-trained I A Connect (4/1), Kennedy showed all his old riding ability as the McNeill Family-owned gelding held on to beat Walnut Beach by a head.

Kennedy received a warm reception and commented: “That was brilliant and I’m delighted.

“He pecked a bit at the back of second-last but he stays and probably wants further than that. I sent him on early as all he does is stay and to be fair to him, he stuck his head out and battled.”

Kennedy, whose previous winner was Harmonya Maker on January 1st, added: “I’m better today than I thought and had a good blowout at Cartmel on Sunday.

“I started back riding out six weeks ago, had three rides at Cartmel and have three today. Touch wood, the leg feels good.

“I didn’t put myself under any pressure to be back for the spring festivals, gave it more time then and I’m looking forward to Galway now.”

Performance

Riding performance went to Danny Mullins on Railway Hurricane (7/2), which ended a 20-race losing spell over fences, landing the Packie Downey Memorial Rated Novice Chase for trainer Gavin Cromwell and the O’Brien/Darren Cahill-partnership.

Mullins was a substitute, filling in for unwell Keith Donoghue, and ‘kidded’ the frustrating eight-year-old for much of the race.

The pair were tracking leader Mr Saxobeat approaching the final fence and when Mullins finally unleashed his challenge on the run-in, Railway Hurricane quickened to score by three and a half lengths.

The winning rider commented: “It was my first time riding the horse, but picking up a Gavin Cromwell spare has been lucky for me in the past (with Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter).

“There was a big team effort behind that win and I only did the steering. Keith (Donoghue) was unwell and both he and Justin (McGovern), Gavin’s head man, told me all about him and gave me the information to deliver.

“My part was only a small one and they had the little bits figured out beforehand. It worked out well.”

Inclusion finds it easy

WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend combined to win the Racing Again Tomorrow Beginners Chase with the the James and Jean Potter Ltd-owned Inclusion (11/10 favourite), which scored easily by 13 lengths from How Decc.

Townend commented: “She had a lot in her favour today and benefitted from her run at Wexford when she was fresh. That took the fizz out of her and she got things right today.

“She looked better than that grade and I kept out wide as the ground looked better.”

Racing began with the Walter Hennessy Mares Beginners Chase, which was won by J.P. McManus’ Roseys Hollow (30/100 favourite) and notched her first success since landing a Grade 3 hurdle in February 2021.

Odds-on morning favourite Finest Evermore was a 9.30am withdrawal (reported coughing) and in the race, Roseys Hollow’s task was further simplified as second-favourite Return To Base exited at the second fence.

Winning jockey Simon Torrens made all on Roseys Hollow who scored comfortably from Thecornerhouse.

Winning trainer Jonathan Sweeney stated: “It was a small field and how good a race it was I don’t know but it was great to win.

“This is different conditions that running on heavy winter ground and she’ll continue to run in novice chases provided the ground is safe. Hopefully she can build on this.”

J.P. McManus enjoys a double success

J.P McManus completed a double in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Chase (Div I) with Robert Tyner-trained Search For A Myth (15/8 favourite) which arrived from off the pace under Philip Enright to eventually peg back front-running Agirlcalledchloe.

McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry reported: “She was frustrating last year, but maybe it is standing to her this year as she might be a bit stronger and is settling better. You have to ride her out the back to get her settled.

“She got a lovely ride and if you had got it wrong (racing behind a clear leader), it would have been no fault of your own as the race just happened like that.

“We’ll duck and dive on good ground for the rest of the summer.”

Good gets a reward

COURSE specialist Good As Hell (3/1) notched her third course win and made up for an unfortunate recent Wexford unseat in the Tipperary Town Plate Handicap Chase for jockey Brian Hayes, trainer Philip Fenton and owner James Moran.Fenton reported: “It’s great to get a win and she likes it around here. She is a great servant.”

There were great scenes following King Ferdinand’s (11/2) second consecutive success at Tipperary, in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase as the Gortroe Racing Club were again in full voice. Ridden by Eoin Walsh, the gelding idled on the run-in but held on to beat Room To Roam by a neck. Winning trainer Eugene O’Sullivan stated: “He is a brilliant jumper and he actually jumped the last with a circuit-to-go almost dangerously and outside the wings. I said to the owners that if they wanted to go to Cheltenham, they can go in October with this fella for an amateur chase. There are 21 in the syndicate but there are partners involved and on the look out for a second horse.”

Tullyhogue Fort’s (16/5 favourite) success in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Chase (Div II) was notable, as it was consecutive yearly wins for trainer John O’Neill. Ridden by J.J. Slevin, the Aisling and Janeanne O’Neill-owned seven-year-old beat Liable Chancer by three and three-parts of a length. Paul O’Neill, representing his father and trainer, said: “He is a grand horse. I was saying to Kevin (cousin and assistant) that if he won one race a year, which he has done for the last three, that he’d be okay!