Samui recorded a first win since January 2025 in the staying hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday last.
Gordon Elliott’s gelding has been very consistent overall – this was his seventh career win with 11 minor placings on his record, two of those coming at Royal Ascot.
Jack Kennedy positioned his mount close to the pace throughout and came back over four lengths clear at the close.
“He is lovely horse to ride. He has been great for connections even if he had a setback and was off for 12 months,” the champion jockey said
“That will do his confidence good and hopefully there will be more days for him. He enjoyed the nicer ground also.”
Elliott and Kennedy won a bigger event at the same venue on Wednesday when the prolific Chanceawetmorning collected his fifth race since April in the Grade 3 Matchbook Novice Chase. The 11-2 chance cleared out by 13 lengths.
Another Kerry jockey got on the scoresheet at the Kildare track when Philip Enright made it two wins straight on 6-4 favourite Another Challenge for regular ally Oliver McKiernan.
Enright ended the week with 23 winners for the season, only one behind Kennedy.
Gordon Elliott’s love affair with the Far Hills racecourse in New Jersey, USA continued on Saturday evening as the trainer won the American Grand National for the third time.
The Cullentra trainer sent five horses across the Atlantic for the country’s biggest jumps fixture and returned home with two of them successful.
Grade 1 winner Western Fold, also the Galway Plate hero last year, plundered the big race’s fund of $189,000 for first prize, but it a was a close-run thing.
Jack Kennedy had a head to spare over Fil Dor, formerly trained by Elliott but now based in the States.
“It was a big pot. It is nice to be winning those races,” Kennedy said on Racing TV on Sunday at Limerick.
“It is a big meeting, maybe 30,000 people there having picnics from their cars. It is different but it is a great atmosphere and experience. The jumps in the Grand National are slightly bigger than our hurdles but smaller than a fence.
“The ground wasn’t as quick as it can often be over there. My lad was headed with about 100 yards to go but he battled back to be fair to him. We had plenty of support there and I think everyone had a good time.”
Elliott and Kennedy also struck with Lizzie Twigg in the Foxbrook Champion Hurdle.
“Lizzie Twigg was very impressive too. She jumped and travelled well and put the race to bed easily,” the jockey added.
Local trainer Charles Byrnes sent out three winners from five runners over the Munster National weekend at Limerick.
Listowel jockey Tom Kelly took the reins for Byrnes when Political Stance ran seven lengths clear at 10-1 in one of the 2m5f handicap hurdles.
Miners Bridge brought up a hat-trick of wins in the 2m3f handicap chase at Limerick on Sunday.
Sam Curling’s gelding has won by smallish margins each time since August to mitigate his rise up the ratings and again he scored by a length as the 11-4 favourite.
Philip Enright has been on board for each success and this was a decent pot to win with €29,000 up for grabs to the winner. The CKC Syndicate were the happy owners.
Amen Kate got her chasing career off to the perfect start by landing the Irish EBF beginners’ chase which closed Limerick’s weekend of racing on Sunday.
Tom Cooper’s mare was a Listed winner over hurdles last season but had not been seen out since pulling up in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse over Easter.
Daniel King’s mount only faced three rivals for her first start over fences and she won by half a length at 8-1 from Future Prospect. The 4-6 favourite Echoing Silence ran third.
Upcoming Fixtures
Curragh Tues, October 20 (first race 1.25pm)
Navan Weds, October 21 (first race 1.02pm)
Clonmel Thurs, October 22 (first race 1.35pm)
Sligo (NH) Fri, October 23 (first race 1.25pm)
Dundalk Fri, October 23 (first race 5.10pm)
Galway (NH) Sat, October 24 (first race 1.50pm)
Galway (NH) Sun, October 25 (first race 12.32pm)
Wexford (NH) Sun, October 25 (first race 12.50pm)
