Will Kennedy
Will Kennedy
Will Kennedy
Jump jockey William Kennedy was brought up on the Curragh, the son of former Flat jockey and retired trainer Vivian Kennedy Snr. The family suffered a tragedy when Will’s elder brother Vivian died following a fall at Huntingdon in 1988.
Jump jockey William Kennedy was brought up on the Curragh, the son of former Flat jockey and retired trainer Vivian Kennedy Snr. The family suffered a tragedy when Will’s elder brother Vivian died following a fall at Huntingdon in 1988.
Having started his career in Ireland, Will moved to Britain and rode for Noel Chance. He was crowned champion conditional for the 2005/06 campaign with 37 winners. He then had spells with the Paul Webber, Alex Hales, Richard Newland and Donald McCain.
Having started his career in Ireland, Will moved to Britain and rode for Noel Chance. He was crowned champion conditional for the 2005/06 campaign with 37 winners. He then had spells with the Paul Webber, Alex Hales, Richard Newland and Donald McCain.
He regarded the Webber-trained Time For Rupert as the best horse he rode. Will won seven races on him including the Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon, a Listed handicap hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting, three races at Cheltenham, and finished runner-up to Big Buck’s in the 2010 World (now Stayers’) Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He regarded the Webber-trained Time For Rupert as the best horse he rode. Will won seven races on him including the Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon, a Listed handicap hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National meeting, three races at Cheltenham, and finished runner-up to Big Buck’s in the 2010 World (now Stayers’) Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Will won back-to-back renewals of Kempton’s Lanzarote Hurdle for Nick Williams on James De Vassy (2011) and Swincombe Flame (2012). For Dr Newland he won the 2015 Imperial Cup on Ebony Express and, the same year, Market Rasen’s Summer Hurdle on Gran Maestro, plus a good two-mile handicap chase on Boondooma.
Will won back-to-back renewals of Kempton’s Lanzarote Hurdle for Nick Williams on James De Vassy (2011) and Swincombe Flame (2012). For Dr Newland he won the 2015 Imperial Cup on Ebony Express and, the same year, Market Rasen’s Summer Hurdle on Gran Maestro, plus a good two-mile handicap chase on Boondooma.
At his peak, he rode 63 winners in the 2016/17 season during his time with Donald McCain. The following season he managed 48 winners when riding for the likes of Ian Williams, Jonjo O'Neill, and Sarah-Jayne Davies. But by 2021/22 his tally had dipped to just eight. He considered quitting but didn’t want to give up yet, and salvation came when trainer Olly Murphy offered him a job.
At his peak, he rode 63 winners in the 2016/17 season during his time with Donald McCain. The following season he managed 48 winners when riding for the likes of Ian Williams, Jonjo O'Neill, and Sarah-Jayne Davies. But by 2021/22 his tally had dipped to just eight. He considered quitting but didn’t want to give up yet, and salvation came when trainer Olly Murphy offered him a job.
However, the 2022/23 campaign yielded just two winners from 95 rides, the second of which came on the Murphy-trained Hokelami in a Stratford selling hurdle on 1 April 2023. Having contemplated hanging up his riding boots twelve months earlier, Will made the decision to stop.
However, the 2022/23 campaign yielded just two winners from 95 rides, the second of which came on the Murphy-trained Hokelami in a Stratford selling hurdle on 1 April 2023. Having contemplated hanging up his riding boots twelve months earlier, Will made the decision to stop.
Aged 41, he called time on a career spanning more than 25 years and more than 450 winners after taking his final rides at Southwell on Friday, 29 April 2023. He bowed out with two rides for Olly Murphy, Fabrique En France, who finished third in the Allen Davis Memorial Handicap Chase, and eighth-placed Fletch in the Andrew Ray Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
Aged 41, he called time on a career spanning more than 25 years and more than 450 winners after taking his final rides at Southwell on Friday, 29 April 2023. He bowed out with two rides for Olly Murphy, Fabrique En France, who finished third in the Allen Davis Memorial Handicap Chase, and eighth-placed Fletch in the Andrew Ray Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
He stated that he was looking to stay in racing in some capacity. He had already paved the way for that in October 2022 when joining the company ThoroughBid as a consignment agent.
He stated that he was looking to stay in racing in some capacity. He had already paved the way for that in October 2022 when joining the company ThoroughBid as a consignment agent.