Horse Racing

Six of the best Henry De Bromhead horses at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival

Tom ReedTom Reed10 March 2022
Jockey Rachael Blackmore (right) and trainer Henry de Bromhead during day one of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival at Firehouse Racecourse, Ratoath

Jockey Rachael Blackmore (right) and trainer Henry de Bromhead during day one of the Fairyhouse Easter Festival at Firehouse Racecourse, Ratoath

Henry De Bromhead made hay last year at the Cheltenham Festival with Rachael Blackmore and star horses such as Honeysuckle. Planet Sport runs down his best fancies at Cheltenham 2022.

Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead has emerged as one of the top jumps racing handlers in recent years, experiencing a stellar Cheltenham 2021 with six winners.

De Bromhead claimed a one-two in the Gold Cup with Minella Indo pipping stablemate A Plus Tard in a stunning result for the Knockeen yard.
An historic treble was sealed with wonder-mare Honeysuckle taking the Champion Hurdle and Put The Kettle on clinching the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Of course an added bonus is his training tie-in with Rachael Blackmore and the superstar jockey looks set to ride plenty of De Bromhead's top thoroughbreds at Cheltenham this year.

Planet Sport takes a look at Henry De Bromhead's best horses at the Cheltenham Festival 2022.

Shantreusse - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

This one's flying under the radar for the Albert Bartlett on March 18 due to the presence of stablemate Journey With Me who could go in the Ballymore.
Shantreusse has done everything right for a crack at the Albert Bartlett so far, winning a Cork maiden by 17 lengths on heavy ground and then claiming a facile five lengths victory at Clonmel in a Grade 3 under Rachael Blackmore.
Both wins were over three miles with Shantreusse looking a natural Albert Bartlett contender.

After the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle win at Clonmel, De Bromhead said: "He is obviously a real stayer, loved that ground and jumps great. Rachael was brilliant on him and he is a real chaser in the making…We have a good record in this and it is a good prep for the Albert Bartlett. He is really exciting and as long as it's good Festival ground, I think we'll be OK."

Journey With Me - Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

One of Robcour's various Cheltenham entries carrying the pink and black silks, Journey With Me looks set for the two miles, five furlong test of the Ballymore.
A winner of all of his four career starts, the Mahler gelding was most recently an impressive victor in the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle at Naas.
The six-year-old has clocked up a combined winning distance of over thirty lengths and in clearly a serious animal who can provide a bit if value in the Ballymore.

Also holding an entry for the longer Albert Bartlett, the Ballymore trip seems ideal, however, De Bromhead said after his Naas win: "Obviously further will suit him, I hope. Nothing is set in stone but I'd say, in my head, I'd be going for the Ballymore. That's two-five."

Telmesomethinggirl - Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle

This useful mare strengthened Rachael Blackmore claims for the Leading Rider gong at Cheltenham 2021 with a win in the Mares' Novices Hurdle.
That victory was Blackmore's fifth of the week and De Bromhead will be hoping for a further win in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle this time around.
Already heading the market, the seven-year-old has warmed up for the Festival with a third at Leopardstown in which she was held up for long periods.
Likely to come on for that run, the mare named after the song from the movie A Star Is Born can shoot into the stratosphere once more.

Bob Olinger - Turners' Novices' Chase

Another class act De Bromhead runner owned by Robcour, Bob Olinger scooted away with the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle last year.

That Cheltenham 2021 win came by seven and half lengths from the not too shabby Gaillard De Mesnil of Willie Mullins, who went on to win the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Bob Olinger has kept his win streak going with a Gowran Park stroll and then his own Punchestown victory in the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase.

A confident De Bromhead said: "He'll go for the Turners Novices' Chase. His performance last year was really impressive and he's been good this year so hopefully he'll go and do something similar."

A Plus Tard - Cheltenham Gold Cup

Its says a lot about the strength of A Plus Tard that he is ahead of Minella Indo in the Gold Cup betting despite his stablemate being the reigning champion.
The Cheveley Park Stud owned eight-year-old is a tremendously consistent type who took the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase in 2019 before coming runner up to Minella Indo in the three miles, two and a half furlong big one at Cheltenham in 2021.

Only a short head separated A Plus Tard and Gordon Elliott's Galvin in the Savills Chase warm up at Leopardstown in December and there is barely a cigarette paper between the two in the market for the 2022 Gold Cup.

A Plus Tard means see you later in French and it would be no surprise to see De Bromhead's charge say adieu to the Gold Cup field this time around.

Honeysuckle - Champion Hurdle

One of the best mares of all time can add to her Cheltenham tally with consecutive wins in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Her 15 race unbeaten streak speaks for itself with a a simple win last time out at Leopardstown coming as ideal work for the Champion Hurdle tilt on March 15.
The combined winning lengths of Honeysuckle's 15 victories is approaching 100 lengths such has been her total mastery of the hurdling game.
Others like Appreciate It and Epatante may throw up a challenge but Honeysuckle is likely to be smelling the sweet smell of success once more.
READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2022 guide: When is it, times, big races, top horses, trainers, jockeys and more.

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