Henry De Bromhead will be pleased as Team Knockeen is in fine form with the national hunt season firmly underway in Ireland.
Since the start of the month, Waterford trainer Henry De Bromhead has saddled seven winners - as he shows his hand with a number of grade ones on the horizon.
Having captured the season's first grade one courtesy of Envoi Allen rolling back the clock at Down Royal in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase on November 5th - the winners have kept coming for the Butlerstown handler.
Magical Zoe kicked off proceedings with a strong showing under a good ride from Adrian Heskin in the Grade 3 Lady Mares Novice Hurdle at Down Royal on the opening weekend of the month at odds of 18/1 - before 15/8 Gataeu De Miel captured a Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.
Four successes followed over the weekend, the first of which came courtesy of exciting novice hurdler Hiddenvalley Lake at Naas on Saturday.
The son of Sholokhov kept on well to see off Gordon Elliott's Santonito in a 2 mile 3 furlong maiden hurdle at odds of 5/2 and he looks a horse with fine potential for Robcour.
Blackmore and De Bromhead landed a double soon after as Watch House Cross made every yard of the running to score at 18/1 in the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle.
Another double was then landed at Navan on Sunday, as the 15/2 fancy Spirit of Legend stayed on gamely to narrowly land the Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle, before the much-adored Captain Guinness struck to deny Riviere D'etel in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase at odds of 4/1.
Henry would have also been impressed with the performance of Bob Olinger in his first run back over hurdles in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle, however he was stunningly denied what looked to be a routine victory by Joseph O'Brien's Home by the Lee, who arrived at the line following an incredible ride by JJ Slevin to land the spoils at 28/1.
Henry De Bromhead will be hoping to capture a second Grade One success of the campaign this Saturday, when Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard makes his seasonal bow at the Betfair Chase at Haydock, where he's heavily fancied with early quotes of as low as 4/9.
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