It's time for Rupert to reward Will's courage

13 April 2012

It is surprising that Irish jockey Will Kennedy has ever sat on a horse at all. In 1988, when Will was six, his older brother, Vivian, was killed in a fall at Huntingdon.

"He had moved to England when I was very young and although I spent a week with him one summer, my only real memory of Viv was of him leading me on my pony over some poles at a gymkhana," he recalled.

Kennedy's parents were naturally reluctant to allow him to go race-riding but the son of a jockey-turned-trainer was glad he did.

He does not dine at racing's top table, so emotions may run high should the courageous journeyman bring hot favourite, Time For Rupert, home in front in the three-mile Grade One RSA Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next Wednesday.

Time For Rupert was the only horse who could put up a serious challenge to Big Buck's in the World Hurdle last year and has won his two chase starts at Cheltenham this season.

Kennedy, 29, said: "It's every jockey's dream to have a horse like him.

"I was lucky enough to keep the ride after he won his bumper at Ludlow and I've ridden him in all his 13 starts. He's becoming more professional with every run."

When marine insurance underwriter Toby Drysdale splashed out 40,000 guineas at Cheltenham's 2007 December breeze-up sale for the horse as a tenth anniversary present for his wife, Sarah, little did he guess that Time For Rupert would become such a promising campaigner and money spinner.

However, trainer Paul Webber is keen to give the seven-year-old more experience before contesting the valuable event, for which he is a general 9-4 chance.

So Time For Rupert will complete his preparation today with a schooling session under the guidance of jumping expert Yogi Breisner.

Former trainer Peter Cundell has also helped out with the gelding's training, making available his excellent turf gallops at Compton.

Kennedy says he's seen a marked improvement in the horse and added: "He deserves to be favourite. I was bullish that he'd run well last year against Big Buck's and I think if I get into a rhythm like he has done in his last two runs, I'd be equally confident.

"I'm not feeling any pressure, I have a lot of faith in the horse and he'll give me everything. There are dangers but they are more worried about me."

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It's time for Rupert to reward Will's courage

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