Deep freeze speeds Jack Kennedy to miraculous recovery in time for big weekend

Two trips to ice chambers where temperatures dropped to 110 degrees below freezing have helped Jack Kennedy make a miraculous recovery from a broken collarbone for a return to action at Clonmel on Thursday just 18 days after being injured.

The 21-year-old fractured his left collarbone for a third time following a fall from Etincelle Lioterie in a novice hurdle at Limerick on October 11, but will be back in the nick of time to renew his partnership with Delta Work in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday as well as a whole host of Gordon Elliott-trained treats over the two-day meeting.

Kennedy told the Racing Post on Tuesday morning: "I was with my specialist Paddy Kenny this morning and he was 100 per cent happy for me to return, so I will be back at Clonmel on Thursday where I have two rides."

The 22-time Grade 1-winning jockey elaborated on his recovery process, saying: "It's been hard work, but it's easy having the mental strength to go through the pain barrier when you have the horses I have to look forward to. It's an incredible team.

Jack Kennedy: will have two rides on ThursdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I was down in Ennis to do two stints of cryotherapy in Brian Enright's ice chambers. It's minus 110 degrees in there. You have to go in three times and each stint lasts for four minutes. The way I looked at it was that I didn't have to stay in there all day. It was only 12 minutes in total and it wasn't going to kill me.

"The first four-minute stint is not too bad actually, you think it's going to be worse. The second time is tougher and the third time is not easy. But I would have done anything in my power to get back for Down Royal. I was using [jockeys' agent] Gary Cribbin's ice baths as well. They were one degree."

Speaking about his latest injury, Kennedy said: "It wasn't the sorest thing in the world when it happened. I've broken it twice before so I knew what it feels like. I knew it was fractured straight away but I knew it wasn't badly fractured. I knew is wasn't displaced or anything like that. It was very straightforward really."

Kennedy will ride Envious Editor and The Abbey at Clonmel on Thursday, but it is the book of rides he is likely to have at Down Royal on Friday and Saturday which will leave his fellow jockeys filled with envy.

Elliott has 18 entries on Friday alone and, as well as Delta Work in the first Grade 1 since early February on Saturday, Kennedy is likely to be on board Abacadabras in the WKD Hurdle, the unbeaten Envoi Allen, Samcro and Queens Brook. It is no wonder he was in such a rush to get back.

Kennedy won the Savills Chase and Irish Gold Cup on Delta Work last season, and Elliott thinks he gets the very best out of the seven-year-old, who already has five Grade 1 wins on his CV and is 7-4 favourite with Paddy Power to make that six in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase.

Kennedy said: "Delta Work is definitely a Gold Cup contender and I cannot wait to ride him again. He's one of those horses I just seem to have clicked with. When I rode him last Christmas at Leopardstown I knew he was going to be a bit fresh and keen so I gave him a bit of room as I didn't want anything to light him up early. He can be keen. We just get on well together and I'm a big fan of the horse.

As well as Delta Work, Kennedy is set to have numerous top rides for Gordon Elliott (left) this weekendCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Given the way he jumped and the way the Gold Cup went for him, it is hard to believe he finished as close as he did at the end. I would say he would have been bang there with a better round of jumping. I haven't given up on him anyway, he feels like a Gold Cup contender to me."

On the rest of the stellar Elliott team destined for Down Royal, Kennedy added: "Abacadabras is very exciting. He ran very well in the Supreme and was just chinned on the line. I haven't ridden two many proper speedy two-mile hurdlers, but he is definitely one. I won an Irish Champion Hurdle on Apple's Jade, but this lad would have way more boot than her – he's got loads of gears.

"I don't know if I will be riding Envoi Allen or not, but hopefully I will. I won't be getting my hopes up just yet. I've only ridden him once at home as Keith [Donoghue] does all the work on him. He's some horse.

"Queens Brook is a lovely mare. I rode a different horse in the maiden hurdle she won at Fairyhouse and we went very slow. That wouldn't have suited her at all, she is much better than that."

Ladbrokes Champion Chase (Saturday)

Paddy Power: 7-4 Delta Work, 9-4 Presenting Percy, 3 Chris's Dream, 6 The Storyteller, 25s bar

Down Royal Friday entries

Down Royal Saturday entries

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