'My heart goes out to him' - Irish champion jockey Jack Kennedy breaks leg for sixth time

Ireland's champion jump jockey Jack Kennedy is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg for a sixth time when Twoohthree suffered a fatal fall at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Kennedy, who fought off Paul Townend on the final day of last season to claim his first title, was on board Twoohthree in the opening beginners' chase won by Impaire Et Passe. The pair fall at the last and the 25-year-old crashed into Sean O'Keeffe, who fell independently on O'Moore Park at the same fence. 

Richard Downey, medical officer for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said: "Jack has broken his right lower leg and has gone to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for management of the injury."

Sam Ewing is set to come in for the ride on Stayers' Hurdle hero Teahupoo in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday, and he is also expected to partner Firefox in the Drinmore Novice Chase and Romeo Coolio in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. 

Ewing won on both of those horses at Down Royal earlier this month when Kennedy was suspended. 

Gordon Elliott said: "My heart goes out to Jack but the one thing I can assure him is that all these horses will be here for him when he returns. Jack is a massive part of the team at Cullentra and we would be absolutely lost without him. 

"He'll be back and all the horses will be here for him when he is. I would say Sam will ride the horses on Sunday and he's a great fella to be able to call up on big days like this."

Kennedy missed the 2023 Cheltenham Festival after breaking his leg for a fifth time in a fall from Top Bandit at Naas in January of that year and, while this latest setback is another bitter pill for him to swallow, he is expected to have recovered in time for the 2025 festival. 

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