- Irish police are investigating claims two top jockeys were attacked by a mob
- Sam Ewing and Jack Kennedy were reportedly assaulted in Naas at 3am
- Both had won races at the Cheltenham Festival in England the previous week
Irish police are reportedly investigating claims top jockeys Sam Ewing and Jack Kennedy were attacked by a mob in a 3am attack in Naas.
The Gardai are seeking the thugs who attacked the talented jockeys in Co Kildare in the early hours of Monday March 18, days after their star performances at the Cheltenham Festival.
Kennedy, 25, rode the favourite Teahuppo to glory in the Stayers’ Hurdle on Day Three at the event, while 20-year-old Ewing won the following day’s Albert Bartlett Hurdle aboard 33-1 outsider Stellar Story.
However, they fell victim to a mob of young men from another part of Kildare three days later.
The Irish Mirror reports that their performances came under criticism, with a source revealing: ‘There were ridiculous comments made about Cheltenham.
Irish police are investigating claims Cheltenham winning jockey Sam Ewing was attacked
Jack Kennedy, who rode Teahupoo to victory at Cheltenham, was also reportedly assaulted
‘They got set upon by a group of men who complained about the number of races the pair won. It was crazy altogether.
‘They are both inoffensive young fellas and did not deserve this. They were the victims here.’
The mob is thought to have targeted Ewing on South Main Street in Naas at 3am, with Kennedy also attacked when he ran to his friend’s aid.
They were repeatedly punched and kicked before being able to escape the group of young men, and alert the authorities, who have already assessed CCTV footage.
A spokesman for the Gardai said: ‘Gardai at Naas received a report of an alleged assault incident that occured at approximately 3:15am on Monday, 18th of March 2024, on South Main Street in Naas, Co Kildare.
‘Two males, aged in their 20s, were injured during the incident. No arrests have been made at this time, and inquiries are ongoing.’
Trainer Gordon Elliott, pictured with Kennedy, revealed he was unaware of the incident
Sources said the jockeys were urged to seek hospital treatment following last week’s attack – although neither was thought to be seriously injured as a result of the incident, and Kennedy won two races at Limerick on Sunday.
Neither jockey responded to the Irish Mirror when asked to comment, while trainer Elliott revealed: ‘I know nothing about it’.
