O'Keeffe extends his advantage in the jump jockeys title race Darragh O’Keeffe moved two clear (72-70) of Jack Kennedy in the jump jockeys’ championship when Walks In June took the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown. The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding was adding to a maiden win at Limerick this autumn and headed the front-running Ma Jacks Hill approaching the final hurdle. A fine jump by the 11/1 chance at the last settled the issue as O’Keeffe’s mount kept on well on the run-in to beat 11/8 favourite Fierce Handay by two and three-quarter lengths. Coyote Spirit kept on one-paced, a further length and a quarter back in third. De Bromhead said, “He’s a horse we’ve always liked. He was disappointing in Navan, and I’d say the ground didn’t help him. “It was a competitive race, he winged hurdles and I’m delighted with him. “He’s had three runs (this season) and we might start looking at March. He’s quite a big, light-framed horse, so maybe a month easy now and come back for the spring. “He’s learning all the time and thanks to Colin Bowe who recommended him.”
