Jockeys' Championship leader Jack Kennedy kicked off the new year with a winner today, landing Fairyhouse's opening Wishing Everyone A Healthy 2023 (Mares) Hurdle with Gordon Elliott's impressive winner Harmonya Maker (5/4).

Kennedy, who currently leads Paul Townend 77-56 in the championship, elected to make the running on the Tim O'Driscoll-owned mare who maintained her gallop throughout, defeating Pink I The Park (6/5f) by 20 lengths.

It was Harmonya Maker's third win from seven starts, with her successes being gained, respectively, by 12 lengths, 18 lengths and today's 20.

Trainer Elliott said “she was good and loved it around here. It just wasn’t enough of a test the last day at Punchestown where the inside track was tight enough and in hindsight we should have gone a bit quicker.

“She loves it around here, a big galloping track, and is a good mare. I’d say the further she goes the better she is.

“We won’t commit to where she goes next. She’ll get an entry in the Solerina back here but we have a few mares to make plans for.”

Quotes from Alan Magee