Renowned trainer Henry de Bromhead is gearing up for another thrilling Cheltenham Festival, relying on a blend of familiar champions and promising newcomers.
Over the past few years, De Bromhead has achieved remarkable results at the festival, with consecutive wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup courtesy of Minella Indo and A Plus Tard in 2021 and 2022 respectively. He has also celebrated successive victories in the Champion Hurdle with the phenomenal Honeysuckle.
De Bromhead's prowess extends beyond these title-winning performances. Notable stars like Put The Kettle On, the 2021 Champion Chase victor, Quilixios, the triumphant hero of the Triumph Hurdle, Envoi Allen, the Ryanair Chase conqueror, and the dual Festival scorer Bob Olinger have all thrived under his tutelage. With an impressive tally of 21 Festival winners to his name, De Bromhead has firmly established himself as a leading force at Cheltenham.
While acknowledging that this year's squad may not match the strength of previous years, De Bromhead remains optimistic about the young talent that is emerging. Embracing the challenge, he expects to send approximately 20 horses to the festival and hopes to uncover several standout performers among them.
Among the returning stars, Minella Indo stands out as he embarks on his sixth Festival appearance, transitioning to the cross-country sphere in the Glenfarclas Chase. To extend his career, this 11-year-old veteran thrilled fans with a promising fourth-place finish over the banks’ course in December. Anticipation is high for Minella Indo's bold showing at the festival, potentially paving the way for a subsequent Randox Grand National bid.
De Bromhead is also considering an Aintree bid for Minella Indo, pending the handicapper's assessment of his chances. Inspired by the success of previous trainers like Gordon Elliott, he believes that Aintree offers a favourable route to the Grand National.
Envoi Allen, the defending champion of the Ryanair Chase, is another strong contender. Despite not having raced since his narrow defeat at Down Royal in November, De Bromhead sees this break as an advantage. The horse's freshness has proven to be a winning formula in the past, and he is confident in Envoi Allen's current form leading up to the festival.
Captain Guinness, last year's Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase runner-up, will also return for another shot at the two-mile heat. After finishing third to the highly-favoured El Fabiolo in his recent outing, the race served as a fact-finding mission for Captain Guinness following a previous setback during Christmas. De Bromhead is pleased with the horse's performance and believes he could capitalise on any unexpected turns of events during the race.
The My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase picture became more uncertain after Marine Nationale's defeat at Leopardstown earlier this month. Undeterred, De Bromhead is willing to take a gamble with Quilixios, who bounced back to form when dropped to two miles in his most recent race. The horse's quick and agile jumping style makes him particularly suited for faster-paced races.
Telemesomethinggirl, who unfortunately fell while still in contention in the 2022 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, will have another opportunity to tackle the challenge this year. Additionally, emerging talents Slade Steel and Monty's Star are expected to make their mark.
Slade Steel, a Grade Two winner, finished a commendable second at the Dublin Racing Festival. De Bromhead believes the horse will perform even better on improved ground conditions. The team is keeping their options open regarding race selection, considering both Slade Steel's performance and the competition.
Monty's Star, donning the Minella Indo colours, has shown promise in his two starts over fences. De Bromhead is delighted with the horse's progress, especially after a lacklustre performance last year. With an impressive first run and a strong second outing, Monty's Star is expected to thrive in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, particularly if the ground conditions are favourable.