Jacks Island wins La Touche for Kenny/Fox

Veteran Jacks Island caused a 25/1 upset for 'the small man' in the Avon Ri Corporate & Leisure Resort (La Touche) Chase at Punchestown today for trainer John Kenny and seven pounds claimer Ger Fox.

Jacks Island carried a chase rating of just 95 into today's race and was without a win since the last of his three career Clonmel wins in April 2011. However, ridden for the first time by Fox today, the 11 year old raced with great enthusiasm and improved to lead from three out.

From there Fox maintained a clear lead and kept the gelding going for a seven and a half lengths win over Keep On Track

Twenty four year old Fox has made quite a splash in second half of this season and was riding his 11th winner of the term today, leaving him just three winner to lose his seven pounds claim.

Kenny later stated “Ger carried instructions out to a tee today and it's the first time anybody has!

I thought he'd a great chance today; when he went to Cheltenham in November, Sam Twiston-Davies fell off him on the turn after the third last. He had the first and second in behind him so he would have been in the money.

“There was then no point going to the Cheltenham festival as he wouldn't have got in. He's brilliant around here and being 11, there's not much else for him so he'll come back here on Saturday if he's sound.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson