Kamikaz gets favourite backers off to winning start at Wexford Favourite backers would have been on good terms with themselves after the Gordon Elliott trained Kamikaz Du Plessis landed the opening Shamrock Enterprises Maiden Hurdle at Wexford. Runner-up on his hurdling debut at Ballinrobe in May, the Robcour owned five-year-old was sent off 11/8f to go one place better. In a prominent pitch throughout, jockey Jack Kennedy chased leader Dream Diamond, before edging to the front approaching two out. Briefly pressed by Noticebox, the market leader asserted on the run to the last, staying on strongly to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths. Jack Kennedy, riding his first winner since returning from injury, said: "That's brilliant and I didn't have to wait too long, so it's great. "He is a very slick jumper, he travelled well and was probably borderline keen early, but once we on a little bit he was perfect then. He is a nice horse and hopefully there will be plenty more to come with him. "He stayed on well in Ballinrobe the last day, so we were hoping the two-and-a-half mile trip today would suit him. "He probably put the race to bed fairly easy and I was probably there a bit soon on him. He was green and just ran around a bit, but he is a nice horse, I got a nice feel off of him, so hopefully he can go forward." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
