Jack Kennedy was destined for stardom from a very early age, and he’s so far lived up to the big expectations that were placed on him. When he turned 16 in April 2015, Kennedy took out his jockey license and began a very early path.
A month later, he rode his first winner, which came on the flat, and then a week after that win, he rode his first winner over hurdles, quickly followed by another 24 hours later. At this time, he was the youngest jockey riding in the UK & Ireland, and he was already showing why he was one to watch.
Born on April 22, 1999, since those early days, Kennedy has moved to become a full-time jumps jockey while combining with Gordon Elliott to create a partnership that has taken him to many Grade 1 victories.
Given the early age at which Kennedy began his riding career, when he reached the latter part of it, look out for him breaking many records due to the longevity of his career. One race that has alluded him so far has been the Grand National, though he has already placed in the race.
Jack Kennedy Grand National Wins
Jack Kennedy has never won the Grand National.
Their best finish to date was in 2024 with Delta Work who came 2nd.
Full Results
| Year | Horse | Result | Prize Money | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Delta Work | 2 | £211,100 | Gordon Elliott |
| 2022 | Delta Work | 3 | £100,000 | Gordon Elliott |
| 2021 | Farclas | 5 | £40,000 | Denise Foster |
| 2019 | Dounikos | Fence 29 - Pulled Up | - | Gordon Elliott |
| 2018 | Bless The Wings | 3 | £100,000 | Gordon Elliott |
| 2017 | Roi Des Francs | 18 | - | Gordon Elliott |
Relationship With Gordon Elliott
The majority of Kennedy’s career has been with Gordon Elliott, a man who has an incredible range of talent, taking Kennedy to the biggest and best races on the calendar and giving him a large number of winners.
Some of the biggest names from the Elliott yard have been ridden to success in big races by Kennedy. Horses such as Envoi Allen, Delta Work, Galvin, Samcro, Death Duty, Apple’s Jade and others have all won graded contests, some at Grade 1 level when ridden by Kennedy.
Jack does have other trainers that offer him rides when needed, but most of his time is taken up with the Elliott team, and while ever they continue to be a formidable force, Kennedy is likely to keep racking up the big race winners.
Winning The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup
The biggest moment of Jack Kennedy’s young career was when he came home in front to win the Cheltenham showpiece back in 2021, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He rode the Gordon Elliott-trained Minella Indo to victory in the race, staying on strongly up the hill to claim one of racing’s biggest prizes.
The horse was the second-string runner from the Elliott team behind A Plus Tard, who was ridden by Rachel Blackmore and finished second behind Kennedy and Minella Indo. It was a tough duel, with both the horse and jockey showing their determination to get up the hill in front and win the race.
Kennedy is already in double figures when it comes to Cheltenham Festival winners, with the majority of those being on horses trained by Gordon Elliott. He’s no doubt had some memorable moments, including Labaik in 2017, which was his first Cheltenham Festival win, but in terms of size, there is no doubt that Minella Indo winning the Gold Cup is the biggest.