Henry De Bromhead will be waking up this Monday morning, with the knowledge that he and his team have pulled off a feat never seen before.
At last week's Cheltenham Festival, the Knockeen trainer claimed the Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle and the Champion Chase all in the one outing - something that no other trainer has managed in the long history of the jumps festival.
Starting off his week in the Champion Hurdle with the unbeaten pairing of Honeysuckle and Rachel Blackmore, few would have expected what was to come over the following three days.
De Bromhead has formed a formidable relationship with the Killenaule pilot over the past years, and never more impressive than this past week, according to the Waterford handler.
"Fair play to Rachael – she was brilliant over there. She was riding out of her skin. She has such a rapport with Honey, they’re like a dream team."
Ever humble, Henry is always quick to remind the punters that the work that goes in is far from a one-man operation. With staff numbers constantly growing and yet more bodies needed to manage to demands of his stables.
"Obviously, it's not just me. There’s a team of us out here. I feel very lucky to have all those people working with us and obviously all of our clients supporting us, that give us the opportunity for these horses. It’s a big team effort and it's incredible really."
Isolating at home and now having the time to think back on what happened in England, the reality is, his success still hasn't completely set in.
"It's incredible really. Disbelief as much as anything. They were both brilliant. A Plus Tard was unlucky, if Indo hadn’t been in the race, he’d have been a very impressive winner himself. It's unreal, I keep using these words, but it genuinely is, it really is."
During last week's coverage on Racing TV, De Bromhead was described as "an overnight success, 22 years in the making". It feels like an appropriate description for a man who has always maintained a low profile and just gotten on with the job, but now, he is recognised for his ability and occupies the same company as the likes of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliot.
The enormity of the task that the Knockeen yard were facing last week is not lost on the man heading up the charge.
"Cheltenham is another level up. It’s the best of the best. To have them competing there is incredible. Even for the team going over, I kept saying that if we could even get one winner we’ll be delighted, now delighted might be a strong word, but you’d be happy. To do what we did was just unreal and it’s a testament to everyone working here."
Aside from the Waterford success, Tipperary have reason to celebrate also with Rachel Blackmore claiming the leading jockey prize having won 6 winners across the week. To put it into context, the entire English contingent only managed 5. The Prestbury Cup remains in Ireland for another year, and in no small part thanks to the efforts of Blackmore, claiming the Ruby Walsh trophy for her efforts.
Having spent the last few years forging a strong relationship with the Killenaule native, De Bromhead says the jockey has earned everything shes got.
"
We linked up, whatever it was two or three years ago, and I said I’d give her a go and try her out, and see how we got on. Within two to three months all my owners wanted her because she was just winning all around her. She just rode her way into our job and that was it."
