Cork joy at Kempton as Kitzbuhel and Sir Gino deliver for owners Joe and Marie Donnelly

Joe and Marie Donnelly have enjoyed many memorable days with the likes of Al Boum Photo, State Man and Shishkin.

On Friday afternoon at Kempton in front of over 17,000 people, the Cork owners enjoyed a spectacular Grade One double courtesy of Kitzbuhel and Sir Gino. Paul Townend, who partnered Kitzbuhel to victory in the Kauto Star Novices Chase, was denied a memorable double when Gaelic Warrior finished tantalisingly close in third in an epic finish to the featured £250,000 King George VI Chase. 

That race went to The Jukebox Man, sporting the silks of Harry Redknapp.

Sir Gino who sports the iconic yellow and black silks, is now 7/4 favourite to give the Donnellys another Champion Hurdle after his victory under Nico De Boinville in the £130,000 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle.

Townend dictated from flagfall on Kitzbuhel in the Grade One Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton. 

They combined to produce an electric front-running performance.

Kitzbuhel had won a Grade Three over hurdles at Gowran and the form of his chasing debut at Punchestown last month had been validated in the interim. Kitzbuhel went off 13/8 favourite for today's three-mile contest. Townend set the fractions and had his main rivals Wendigo and Thomas Mor out of their comfort zone. 

Kitzbuhel produced some spectacular jumps in the back straight that had the crowd gasping. Thomas Mor briefly flattered off the home turn, but Kitzbuhel stood off the final fence and went on to record an impressive two and three-quarter length victory. He's now as short as 6/1 for the Brown Advisory Chase at Cheltenham in March. His stable companion Final Demand is 11/8 favourite for that Cheltenham contest.

SIR GINO SUPREME 

The Donnellys won the Champion Hurdle in 2024 with State Man and he fell at the last in last year's renewal with the race at his mercy. 

Sir Gino has them dreaming of Champion Hurdle glory after he proved his ability is very much intact after a victorious return in the Grade One Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle today.

He'd been absent since the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at this meeting 12 months ago, with a subsequent infection that curtailed his season also leading to a spell in hospital and fears that he'd never race again. 

Former bookmaker Joe Donnelly and his wife Marie are well known as significant collectors of modern art.

Donnelly sold off his racecourse rails pitches in 2002. Joe returned to racehorse ownership after exiting the betting ring. 

This was sparked by his friendship with the late Mick O'Toole. They duly assembled an elite team that has brought them enormous success. That was further bolstered by today's Kempton double and Sir Gino producing undoubtedly the best hurdling performance so far this season, ensuring a tilt at the Champion Hurdle is now very much the target.