Kenny gets off the mark under rules at Downpatrick

Following his best season between the flags to date, James Kenny tasted his first piece of success under rules when guiding Ya Boy Ya to win the Hannon Travel Best Dressed INH Flat race at Downpatrick on Monday.

The five-year-old son of Sans Frontieres had provided 21-year-old Kenny with two of his ten pointing successes last season and having won his maiden at the nearby Tyrella point-to-point in March, this initial track success came on his first appearance under rules.

Those pointing victories for the Orphan Girl Syndicate-owned gelding had come whilst under the care of Kenny’s father Liam, however the bay was transferred to champion handler Colin Bowe ahead of his Downpatrick track debut.

Always towards the fore in the small field 2m 2f contest, Ya Boy Ya tracked the long-time leader Stowaway Sarah around the home bend, however as the final 100 yards approached on the Downpatrick hill, it was the younger gelding who began to come out on top, ultimately pulling a length clear by the line to provide Kenny with that memorable first success.

The stewards however took issue with Kenny’s winning ride, and at a following stewards enquiry, the Wexford native was found to have been in breach of using his whip with excessive frequency and using his whip without allowing his mount at least three strides to respond, resulting in a seven-day suspension and being instructed to attend R.A.C.E for one days tuition on the correct use of the whip.