Local trainer Henry de Bromhead has had a St. Stephen’s Day to remember – training four winners across the cards.

The successes began to flow for Team Knockeen at Down Royal as the Sean Flanagan-ridden Air of Entitlement (5/2) justified favouritism in the opening miaden hurdle – scoring with 3 and half lengths in hand.

A quickfire double soon followed for de Bromhead and Flanagan – with Downmexicoway also justifying favouritism at short odds of 2/7 – hosing up in the second race at the Northern track, with an impressive ten lengths to spare.

 

Attentions then turned to Leopardstown for de Bromhead and local jockey Mikey O’Connor – and once again the Knockeen handler struck oil, as Workahead powered through the line with seven lengths in hand at odds of 13/2 in a maiden hurdle.

De Bromhead then picked up Grade 2 honours at Limerick as impressive mare The Big Westerner upheld her unbeaten record, seeing off the Declan Queally-trained Mozzie’s Sister among others at odds of 7/4 in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe.

The Knockeen handler and stable jockey Rachael Blackmore were stationed at Kempton for the King George IV Chase in which they went with 9-time Grade 1 winner Envoi Allen – who unseated five fences from the finish.

The Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane’s Tower went off 3/1 favourite but it was the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge got past Il Est Francais to land the feature at odds of 7/1 under the guidance of Paul Townend.

Meanwhile in the Christmas Hurdle, the Nicky Henderson-trained Constitution Hill made a scintillating return to action, seeing off the Willie Mullins’ trained Lossiemouth in another twist in a fascinating Champion Hurdle picture.

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.