Henry de Bromhead is hoping that his late son Jack will be willing on the Knockeen team from above as they make the trip to the Cotswolds for the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham has proved a place of paradise for De Bromhead in recent seasons, winning the last two runnings of the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, as well as capturing the 2021 Champion Chase with Put The Kettle On.
Having trained multiple festival winners, Graded victors and a Grand National winner in tandem – De Bromhead admits that Minella Indo’s success on New Years’ Day at Tramore was one of the most poignant of his entire training career, as the home crowd gave an emotional applause to the Butlerstown trainer and his family following the tragic passing of 13-year-old Jack in September.
“It was incredible. I’ll never forget it and can’t thank everyone enough. They just wanted to show us how much they were behind us since Jack and to get it at our local track, it still has me welling up. It was a very emotional day and it meant a lot to all of us.”
Speaking to Kieran O’Connor of WLR, De Bromhead says he’s sure that his young son will be willing his team on from above, and won’t be holding back on any criticisms should things not go to plan.
“He was a great man to give out to me when they weren’t running well so I’m sure he’ll be doing a bit of that. We’ll miss him, not having him around giving out to me, asking me why they’re not all winning – but no doubt, he’ll keep us all on the ball.”
Honeysuckle remains unlikely to bid for a third successive Champion Hurdle crown, but de Bromhead is hopeful that she can be successful at the festival for a fourth successive season with a victory on the opening day.
“Honeysuckle will probably be our only runner on Tuesday. I’m still leaning towards the Mares’ Hurdle but we’ll keep her in the Champion Hurdle just in case. She’s in mighty form. I think she might just have been beaten for various reasons, things conspiring against her and perhaps just beating better horses.”
Wednesday will prove a busy day for the Knockeen handler, with runners in most of the seven races on offer.
“I hope to have Inthepocket in the Ballymore, Captain Guinness will go for the Champion Chase and maybe Amirite in the Novice Chase, they’re all big prices but all have some nice chances and a lot will depend on good ground. Captain Guinness was just short of winning a Grade 1, he’s 8 now and looks great. He’s a bit to find on the top horses but he’ll run a good race.”
De Bromhead also confirmed that last year’s third Plan Of Attack will make another bid for the Cross Country Chase, while Gin On Lime will also head to the banks for the first time on Wednesday.
Thursday will also be a day of particular emotion for De Bromhead, with the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle renamed in Jack’s memory. He will potentially have six runners in the field.
“Envoi Allen is in the Ryanair, we’ve got one or two in the Kim Muir. We have plenty in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle – Magical Zoe, Foxy Girl, Belle The Lioness, Still Ciel and Ladybank. We’ve also got Marvel De Cerisy that day so we’ll be busy.”
Friday has proved a happy hunting ground for De Bromhead in recent seasons with wins for Quilixious in the 2021 Triumph Hurdle as well as back-to-back Gold Cup triumphs with A Plus Tard and Minella Indo. Friday will prove the most action-packed day of all for Team Knockeen.
“We’re well represented on the Friday, we’ve got Ascending in the Triumph who was a bit unfortunate at Christmas. We have Ballyadam in the County Hurdle and Hiddenvalley Lake and Monty’s Star go for the Albert Bartlett. Magic Daze will either go for the Mares’ Chase or the Grand Annual, and we’ve got Chris’s Dream in the Hunter’s Chase. Maskada and Spirit of Legend could also possibly go. It’s a very busy day for us on the Friday.”
On his Gold Cup champions, De Bromhead admits preparations could have gone better for reigning champion A Plus Tard, but he has been happier than ever with how this season has went for Minella Indo.
“A Plus Tard has had a mixed year, pulling up in the Betfair Chase and he was just all wrong. He was ready to go at Christmas and just banged a joint. That might have been a blessing in disguise, maybe that was someone telling us not to go. He’s going in there off the back of one run where he pulled up so we’re up against it, but he’s coming into himself, everyone seems happy with him. Minella Indo has probably had his best ever prep for the race. The year he won it he fell and then he was disappointing in the Irish Gold Cup. Last year, he was disappointing in the King George and then was second in the Irish Gold Cup and this time, he’s actually won.”
Irrespective of what happens during the course of the festival, the Knockeen handler says he and his family feel the love and support of everyone every step of the way.
“We always appreciate the support we get from everyone in Waterford and we’re really looking forward to this week.”
