'Jack is world-class' - Elliott heaps praise upon Kennedy after Mighty success

Tuesday: Champion Novice Hurdle, Punchestown

It was supposed to be a game of cat and mouse between Dysart Dynamo and Sir Gerhard but Jack Kennedy outfoxed them both on Mighty Potter to give Gordon Elliott a very first win in this Grade 1.

"Today Jack Kennedy proved he's the real deal. He's a world-class rider, just different class," Elliott gushed in the immediate aftermath of a bizarre contest.

The reason he was heaping such praise upon the 22-year-old, who was winning his 33rd Grade 1, was down to what happened in between four out and three out.

Paul Townend wanted to poke Sir Gerhard's head between Dysart Dynamo and Mighty Potter but Kennedy was wise to the move and was not letting him through for love nor money.

"Look, we're all friends in the weighing room but once we get out on to the racecourse it's every man for himself," said Kennedy of the manoeuvre, which kept Sir Gerhard locked away for at least a furlong.

It was the winning of the race. Mighty Potter might well have won anyway, but Kennedy made sure he did.

"I was humming and hawing whether I'd even run him or not. We walked the track a couple of times and said we'd take our chance," Elliott said.

"I thought Jack gave him a beautiful ride, he held his position the whole way. The horse is a chaser for the future and we're very happy to win a race like this along the way."

On the lethargic Supreme effort, where Kennedy pulled him up before three out, Elliott said: "He did the splits and was lame for a few days after Cheltenham, nothing seriously wrong with him but he just wasn't right and came home very light."

Kennedy added: "For whatever reason at Cheltenham nothing went right for him. He wasn't jumping and he was hanging."

When asked what was next for Mighty Potter, Elliott said: "He definitely goes chasing. He was bought to be a chaser and we'll go straight over fences with him now. He's a smashing horse."

Mighty Potter was introduced at 8-1 by Paddy Power and Betfair for the Turners Novices' Chase at next season's Cheltenham Festival.

Watch again: Mighty Potter lands Grade 1 surprise at Punchestown

It looked like a foregone conclusion Willie Mullins would win this for a ninth time, but Dysart Dynamo went out like a light and Sir Gerhard was in trouble before the home turn and could not land a glove on the winner. The brilliant Ballymore winner could not even hold on for second as 100-1 outsider Gatsby Grey passed him on the run-in.

Mullins said: "I was scratching my head afterwards but, you know what, Sir Gerhard was disappointing here last year too so maybe he doesn't like Punchestown and maybe he doesn't like going right-handed either. We'll dissect it all but maybe we'll concentrate on going left-handed with him next year."

He added: "Dysart Dynamo had a heart fibrillation. That can come on a horse, it doesn't mean it's going to happen all the time but on a given day it could happen."

Mighty Potter looked a potential star when landing the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and he confirmed that suspicion here. The sky looks his limit over fences.

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