Image © Healy Racing
Dungourney native Michael Kenneally is in flying form, and enjoying a fantastic point-to-point season with 11 winners already on the board in his first full season between the flags.
Eight of his winners were achieved in the last four weeks alone, with Kenneally partnering two winners last weekend.
Riding in the North for the first time, Kenneally made the long journey to Toomebridge on Saturday for two rides. He finished third in the four-year-old maiden for Sam Curling on the Bathyrhon-sired Luther.
“Sam texted me a couple of nights before and asked me if I’d go to the north for him on Saturday,” Kenneally explained.
“I was more than happy. When Sam asks, you go, it’s as simple as that. Sam is a very good trainer and has plenty of firepower. Anything he runs, tends to have a chance.”
A lucky spare ride for Mick Goff in the five-year-old and upwards mare’s contest provided Kenneally with a nice winner aboard Zagirlie.
“The trek to Toomebridge wasn’t too bad, when you ride a winner!," quipped a delighted Kenneally.
“I was going up for Sam’s four-year-old and I picked up a spare ride for Mick Goff in the mares’. Mick had only texted me that morning.
“Mick’s son Harry is out injured and I guess because I’m after riding a few winners, Mick was happy enough to use me.”
“Sam’s horse ran a cracker to finish third and will probably go to Doncaster, and Mick Goff’s mare Zagirlie was very impressive.”
Kenneally was in action closer to home at Ballindenisk 24-hours later where he was successful in the winner of one contest aboard favourite Kent De Thaix for Johnny Collins, supplementing their Curraghmore maiden victory last month.
“Cal Shine broke his collar bone and I got on two of his horses,” commented Kenneally.
“I’m after winning twice on Kent De Thaix for Johnny Collins, Cal had a good association with Johnny.
“The other horse of Cal’s that I won on was Howsmenoftomorro for James Condon, he was part of my treble at Dromahane.”
Michael Kenneally jumping the final fence aboard Kent De Thaix at Ballindenisk on Sunday
Kenneally took out his amateur license in late 2023, and finished the season with three winners. His first points winner came at Borris House in March 2024 aboard Can Daddy Dance for Johnny Hurley. He also notched a memorable first track success in October when partnering the Colin Motherway-trained Pebble Bleu to victory at Punchestown.
“It’s my first full season, I only rode for a few months last season, my first ride was at Boulta in December 2023.
“I suppose there’s a lot of luck involved. I’m not delusional in any way,” remarked Kenneally.
“A couple of lads got knocked out down this direction and I was very fortunate to get on a couple of their horses.”
The 29-year-old began his career as an apprentice jockey on the flat. Moving to England at the age of 17, Kenneally joined Michael Bell, and during that time he recorded three winners. Weight issues curtailed Kenneally’s career as a flat jockey, and he spent a couple of years riding-out in Australia before returning home and qualifying as an electrician.
Kenneally was eventually lured back into racing, and after a short stint at Seven Barrows with Nicky Henderson, Kenneally returned to Ireland to pursue a career as an amateur jockey.
Kenneally is quickly establishing himself in the point-to-point circuit and attracting support from some of the leading yards.
This season, he’s ridden point-to-point winners for nine individual trainers including Eugene O’Sullivan, Sam Curling, Michael Goff, James Condon, Anthony Murphy, Edmund Power, Ciaran Fennessy, Johnny Collins and Denis Ahern.
Racetrack opportunities are also opening up for Kenneally, who finished second on the Terence Leonard-trained Sampoet in the recent hunter chase at Down Royal.
The highlight of the season for Kenneally, was riding his first career treble at Dromahane on 13th April, then following up with a first two-timer just seven days later at Curraghmore.
“I rode the treble in Dromahane then and that really kick-started it all.
“The treble would have to be the highlight of the season, and then to ride the double the week after was great. I was euphoric!
“That entire week, the Sunday to Sunday was incredible.”
The closing leg of Kenneally’s double at Curraghmore was his initial ride for Curling, aboard a mare called Hilltop Duchess, and when asked about how the association with Sam Curling came about, Kenneally explained,
“The man that bought the mare Hilltop Duchess at the sales was David Phelan; His mother looked after me as a child, would you believe! It was from looking at pictures of him on the wall that started getting me interested in racehorses from a very young age.”
“David mentioned to Sam that he knew me, and I’m not sure what was said between them, but it resulted in me getting a few spins for Sam. I’m more than obliged to ride for Sam.”
During the week, Kenneally currently splits his time between several trainers.
“At the minute, I’m in Colin Motherway’s and I’m also in Johnny Hurley’s two mornings a week and in Josh Halley’s a couple of mornings too.
“I used to go into Denis Ahern’s quite a bit in the afternoons, but he’s quietening down now at this time of the year, so I tend to spend more time with the family.”
When asked to pick out a standout horse from the season, Kenneally singled out his Dromahane winner for Edmund Power.
“The nicest horse I rode this season was Nova Nako, a four-year-old by Tirwanako. He’s an absolute aeroplane and he will go to Doncaster to be sold.
“He did everything right. I think he’s a horse that could go on to be a black type horse.
“He’s got all the attributes, he’s a savage jumper and he’s got such a high cruising speed. I think he could be very special.”
Though entering the point-to-point ranks at 28 could be seen as a late start, Kenneally believes that his age is an advantage.
“I don’t have the same time that a young lad does, so I have to make everything count.
“I think maturity helps me, it’s the hunger that drives me on.”
Reflecting on his excellent season, Kenneally is optimistic for the future.
“The plan is to keep tipping away and ride as many winners as possible. Hopefully next season will be as good as this year, if not better.
“It would be nice to build on contacts, and going forward, it would be amazing to be attached to a benchmark stable, that would be the main goal.
“I’m having an unbelievable season, it has just been a dream.”
