Henry De Bromhead makes History at Cheltenham
Henry De Bromhead has become the first trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival 2021 to win three of the biggest races during the same meet. Henry De Bromhead trained the winners of the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and The Gold Cup.
On Tuesday De Bromhead trained the winner horse Honeysuckle, who was ridden by Rachael Blackmore to victory in the Champion hurdle. Rachael became the first female jockey to win the race. On Wednesday Put The Kettle On won the Champion Chase, again trained by De Bromhead and ridden by Aiden Coleman.
Henry De Bromhead, who is an Irish trainer also landed his first ever victory in the Gold Cup when Minella Indo, ridden by Jack Kennedy won. This was followed by a close second A Plus Tard ridden by Rachael Blackmore and also trained by Henry De Bromhead.
After the Gold Cup win jockey Jack Kennery said “I can’t believe it. This is what I’ve dreamt of since I was a child. I’m so grateful to Henry and Barry for giving me this opportunity — I’ll owe them forever. This is what I live for and I just can’t believe this has actually happened to me. I hit the front very soon on Minella Indo but I didn’t want to disappoint him and take him back. We landed over the last and he pricked his ears and was pulling himself up but not through tiredness — then he heard Rachael coming and went again.”
Henry commented after Gold Cup victory saying “It’s unbelievable and I’m delighted for everyone — he’s an incredible horse and he comes alive here. In my head it’s still Monday evening and I’m about to wake up in my hotel room and nothing has even started yet — it’s brilliant and both Jack and Rachael are amazing.”