Michael Kenneally turns first Cheltenham win into quick double

Michael Kenneally celebrated his first Cheltenham winner and quickly followed it with another on Saturday, steering Black Bamboo and Sunny South West to victories at the November meeting. Racing Post reported that the jockey's breakthrough came in the staying handicap hurdle before he returned to win the following race over two miles and five furlongs.

Black Bamboo, trained by John Joseph Murphy, won at 12-1, with William Yeats second and Sir Galahad third. Racing Post said it was the nine-year-old's first success in more than three years. Ten runners contested the race, with six of the original 16 declarations withdrawn before the start, according to The Guardian.

The Guardian's live account described Black Bamboo setting the pace before a mistake at the third-last hurdle interrupted his progress. William Yeats moved up to challenge, but Black Bamboo found enough in the closing stages to repel the favourite. The result came despite that jumping error, with Kenneally able to get his mount back into contention for the finish.

In post-race comments carried by Sporting Life, Kenneally praised Black Bamboo's travelling and said the horse still had reserves after missing the third-last. He also highlighted the response at the final hurdle and the acceleration that followed. His assessment focused on how the horse had recovered from the mistake rather than allowing it to end his chance.

Sunny South West then completed the double in the Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old, trained by Edward F Power, started at 4-1 and beat Hillberry Hill by two-and-a-half lengths, according to Racing Post's result. Daylatedollarshort finished third, a short head behind the runner-up, in a field of six.

After the second success, Kenneally thanked the people who had trusted him with their horses. Sporting Life reported that he also credited his agent's work at home and the continuing backing he had received. The two wins turned a long-awaited first success at the course into a double within the same afternoon, with each victory coming for a different trainer.