HENRY DE BROMHEAD This year’s team is even stronger, further
bolstered by the addition of the three Cheltenham- bound Cheveley Park Stud horses, Envoi Allen, Ballyadam and Quilixios, who were formerly trained by Gordon Elliott. “They are not nice circumstances under which
to have any horse sent to you,” says de Bromhead, “but I feel very fortunate that Cheveley Park decided to send them to me. They are obviously lovely horses, they have settled in nicely here and they are doing well.” Of the original team, Honeysuckle was brilliant in winning the Irish Champion Hurdle (watch here), A Plus Tard proved his stamina in the Savills Chase (watch here) and Bob Olinger could be anything. “Honeysuckle
is very well,” he confirms. “She was great at Leopardstown last time and Rachael (Blackmore) was great on her. She jumped very well and she quickened.” Cheveley Park
Stud’s A Plus Tard, winner of the Close Brothers Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019 and third in the Ryanair Chase last year, has reached a new level when he stepped up to three miles last time and stayed on gallantly to land the Savills Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival. “All is good with A Plus Tard,” says de Bromhead.
“We were delighted with him the last day, and we couldn’t be happier with him.” He has usurped Minella Indo as shortest-priced
de Bromhead representative in the Gold Cup, but a big run from the 2019 Albert Bartlett Hurdle winner could still be on the cards. “We would have loved to have won the Irish Gold
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Cup with Minella Indo, but that was his first run back since his fall in the Savills Chase, and it was a good confidence-boosting run. Cheltenham will suit him much better than Leopardstown did, he always comes alive there,” attests de Bromhead. Bob Olinger is reportedly in great form too and
enters the Festival following victory in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Hotel Hurdle (watch here) over two and a half miles. “Bob Olinger is a lovely horse,” says his trainer.
A Plus Tard, under Darragh O’Keeffe, was impressive when winning the Savills Steeplechase
“He was very good at Naas the last day, and he’s in mighty form. He has a high cruising speed and he has savage gears.” There is depth too to the de Bromhead team. Eklat De Rire is two from two in novice chases, he is progressive, he stays well and is on track for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Aspire Tower will join Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle line-up, and recent Red Mills Trial Hurdle winner (watch here) Jason The Militant could join the party too. Captain
Guinness is on
track for the Arkle, Plan Of Attack for the Ultima or the Kim Muir, Champagne Gold for the County Hurdle or the Martin Pipe, Put The Kettle On for the Champion Chase. “Put The Kettle On is unbeaten in three runs over the Champion Chase course and distance. She won the Arkle last year, and Arkle winners have a fantastic record in the Champion Chase,” he reasons. The de Bromhead team for 2021 is as strong a
team as he has ever sent. And still, ask him what his goal for the week is, and he will tell you again, just one winner. Anything more than that and we’re into bonus territory. The relationship continues.
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