'He gives me an unbelievable feel' - Jack Kennedy keen on American Mike for upcoming Troytown Chase

Jack Kennedy had no hesitation in answering American Mike when asked which one of Gordon Elliott's 16 entries he would like to ride in the €100,000 Bar One Racing Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday week, a race the stable is seeking to win for a seventh time in ten years. 

The prestigious €100,000 event is the feature of the Navan Racing Festival on November 16 and 17, and Kennedy was speaking at a gallops morning at the County Meath track to launch the two-day fixture, which will have live coverage on RTE. 

Kennedy won the race as a 16-year-old on Riverside City in 2015, and nine years later he looks set to place his faith in the enigmatic American Mike, who is two from two over fences at the track and claimed the notable scalp of Fact To File in a beginners' chase at the venue last year. 

"I'd like to ride American Mike in the Troytown," he said. "He’s very good fresh, loves it around Navan and he has a nice weight, too. He can give you an unbelievable feel when on song, like when he won the Ten Up last year. When he's on song he jumps very well and is a horse with loads of ability.

"I was 16 when I won the Troytown on Riverside City. He was my first winner over fences and I had a treble as well; it was an unbelievable day.”

Elliott added of American Mike: "He's either hot or cold, but looks well at the moment. We’ve been thinking of this race for him for a while and we're keen to bring him there fresh. We’re hoping the good American Mike turns up."

The Cullentra master has sent out 184 winners at Navan during his career, and he plans to unleash a couple of his stable stars on the track over the two days.

Elliott, who had eight winners over two days at Down Royal's big festival last week, said: "I’m a Meath man through and through so I love coming to Navan. For me it’s one of the best tracks in the country. We like starting our good horses off at either Down Royal or Navan in November. It’s a very fair track, the best horse usually wins and we are very lucky it is on our doorstep."

He added: "I was delighted with Found A Fifty at Down Royal and he could come back to Navan for the Fortria on the Saturday over two miles. Why not? There's not a lot for him between now and Christmas so it might be the right race to run him in. He's a proper horse and never runs a bad race. 

Found A Fifty: Down Royal winner could run again at NavanCredit: Patrick McCann

"I'm hoping Wingmen will run in the maiden hurdle Stellar Story won last year. He’s won at the Punchestown festival, he’s a point-to-point winner and jumps well. We’ll have others entered, but at the moment he’s the one I have in mind for it. He used to be a handful at home, almost unrideable, but he’s got a massive engine. He’s settled down well at home now and has got stronger. His form at Punchestown was top level."

When asked about others he is considering for the Navan Racing Festival, Elliott added: “I was really happy with The Yellow Clay at Down Royal and he’ll have the option of the For Auction Novice Hurdle. 

"He’s a horse I really like. He’s got a great attitude, does nothing fancy at home but has a massive engine.

"The ones I'm hoping to run in the two beginners' chases at Navan that weekend are Down Memory Lane in the two-mile-one event and Better Days Ahead in the one American Mike won last year. 

"We'll have other entries in those, but at the moment they are the two I have pencilled in for them."

Read more here

Bryony Frost back in Britain for ride in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on Friday - while Grade 1 winner set to make chasing debut on undercard  

Jeriko Du Reponet, Marine Nationale and more: when and where some exciting jumps stars could return this week 

The jumps season is getting into full swing - and now is the perfect time to join Racing Post Members' Club with 50% off 

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