Donal Murphy
Pictures Of Home completes treble for Kennedy
Pictures Of Home jumps the last under Jack Kennedy
© Photo Healy Racing
Pictures Of Home completed a treble for Jack Kennedy, as he just prevailed in the Tote Always SP Or Better At Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle.
Successful at Kilbeggan in 2021 and only seen four times since, the Ted Walsh-trained seven-year-old was an encouraging eighth of 20 on his most recent start which came early this month.
Back up in trip this afternoon, the Charles Wentworth-owned bay was sent off a 10/1 chance and raced mainly in mid-division, taking closer order from three out.
A close second on the run to the next, the Gentlewave victor was soon ridden to the front and needed to be kept up to his work all the way to the line, holding off the late surge of Kiln Time by a head.
The runner-up was returned the well-backed 10/3 favourite (from 10s early) under Brian Hayes, while the staying-on Cher Why Not (5/1) was another length-and-three-quarters back in third.
"He stays well. Jack won on him at Kilbeggan over three miles and when he was available I was glad to get him again," Walsh commented.
"I'm not saying he wouldn't have won with somebody else but he wouldn't have won with too many!
"He stays going, he's had a few bits of problems. He might win another one and he might not, he might win a three-mile chase.
"The fella that owns him is a very patient man to keep him that long. He's won twice when he's had a few quid on him but at the same time it's a long old time to keep a middle-of-the-road horse.”
Kennedy was earlier successful on Sa Fureur and Pacini with both of those trained by Gordon Elliott.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson