Kennedy's century arrives on Master Haku Jack Kennedy brought up 100 winners for the season with a battling success on Master Haku in the opening maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan. The 4/11 favourite made virtually all, but that doesn't tell the whole story as The Store Boy and Darragh O'Keeffe threw down a stern challenge before the last. That challenger led briefly approaching the last, but Master Haku got back on terms in jumping it. The favourite was stronger on the run-in as he went on by two and a-quarter lengths for owner Kevin Cooke. Runner-up The Store Boy went off at 100/30 and he was half a length up on Endless Talking (7/1). Gordon Elliott said: “He’s actually a grand horse. To be honest, I wasn’t even that keen to run him only for that fact that Jack is going for the championship. “I think there is plenty of improvement in him, you can see the size of him, he’s having a real good blow there. “Jack was happy with him and said he did everything grand. “He had two nice runs, but pulled a muscle behind and that’s why we ended up missing so much time with him. “I think there will be plenty of improvement. I might give him the month of May off and then see how we go.” Master Haku progressed from two placed efforts over flights in Cork. This victory moved Kennedy six clear of O'Keeffe in the race for the National Hunt jockeys' title. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
