Kennedy & Elliott on Fire as they complete 40/1 double Bowensonfire ironically got the better of UK champion jockey Sean Bowen, aboard heavily backed favourite I Started A Joke, to complete a double on the day for Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott in the Padel At Leopardstown Golf Launching Spring 2026 Handicap Hurdle. The 7/4 favourite I Started A Joke made headway to hold a slight advantage at the final flight but Bowensonfire proved ultra tough and dug deep on the inner. The 10/1 shot rallied strongly under pressure for Kennedy and had a length and three-quarters to spare at the line. The Willie Mullins-trained pair Kimi De Mai and Murcia finished third and fourth respectively. Elliott said, “He’s a bit of a monkey. You don’t even give Jack instructions going out, just do what you want, drop him in and get him in every bit of trouble you can. “Maybe getting his head in front the last day helped. I thought he might be badly handicapped in that ground but it’s great to win. “It’s great that the lads are here. Dave (Page) and his brother and a few of them own this fella. Dave is with me a couple of years, and they are big supporters of Cullentra. We’ve had good days and bad days, but they stick with me. “Without these lads you can’t do it. They travel over from the UK to see their horses when they can, they don’t get enough credit these men.” Kennedy said, “To be honest I didn’t think he’d walk on that ground today, but he was good and tough to be fair. “He’s a funny auld horse as well as there is a bit of ignorance about him. He probably doesn’t know when he’s beat. “You have to drop him but then he takes a while to get into top gear, so you need them to go a gallop. That probably worked in his favour today.” Elliott and Kennedy were also on the mark with Brighterdaysahead in the featured Timeless Sash Windows Irish Champion Hurdle. Quotes by Gary Carson
