Trainer Focus: Henry De Bromhead: County Waterford’s Winners in Waiting

Since setting out as a trainer in 2000, Henry De Bromhead has become one of the premier National Hunt trainers on either side of the Irish Sea. Prolific in his homeland, the 52-year-old has also made a huge splash on British shores, with 23 Cheltenham Festival Triumphs, including two Champion Hurdles, two Gold Cups, and three wins in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, in addition to a famous victory in the 2021 Aintree Grand National.

Recent years have witnessed the yard receive an outpouring of love and support from the racing community following the tragic death of De Bromhead’s 13-year-old son Jack – best encapsulated by the tear-jerking success of Honeysuckle in the 2023 edition of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.

With 95 winners and almost £3 million in prize money, 2023/24 was another memorable season for the yard - headlined by a Grade 1 double at the Cheltenham Festival. Already past the 50-winner mark for 2024/25, De Bromhead is well on his way to a first domestic century of winners.

Here, we present the star performers from the impressive County Waterford operation and the runners residing in our horse tracker for the current campaign.

Stable Stars

Envoi Allen

Touted as the next big thing in 2018, this Cheveley Park Stud runner delivered on the hype by winning his first 11 starts for Gordon Elliott, including five Grade 1 contests. Since joining De Bromhead in March 2021, Envoi Allen has added four further top-tier triumphs to his impressive haul – most recently when outbattling Hewick to claim the 2024 edition of the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal. The King George and Ryanair Chase are likely to be his major targets for the season.Captain Guinness

This nine-year-old has had the misfortune of running in the same era as Shiskin, Energumene, Chacun Pour Soi, and Jonbon. Despite that, he is now a five-time Graded winner and shone on the big stage when landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. Unfortunately, an issue with his heart has reared its head in recent weeks, meaning we may not see him until later in the year.

Bob Ollinger

Long held in high regard by De Bromhead, Bob Olinger has experienced a few bumps in the road but is an immensely talented performer on his day. A winner of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in 2021 and Turners’ Novices’ Chase in 2022, he is without a top-level success since but showed much of the old sparkle remains when losing out by just a nose to Impaire Et Passe in the 2024 edition of the Aintree Hurdle. Looking in need of the outing on his comeback in the Lismullen Hurdle, we wouldn’t bet against him claiming a third career Grade 1 this year.

Minella Indo

The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner remains in training in 2024/25. He may not be quite the force of old as he closes in on his twelfth birthday, but ran a cracker to finish third in the Grand National last season and may return for a second crack at the Aintree spectacular in April.

Monty’s Star

If there is a horse in the yard to repeat the Gold Cup heroics of Minella Indo, it may be this strapping son of Walk In The Park. He filled the runners-up position in Grade 1 events at Cheltenham and Punchestown last season when displaying his reserves of stamina to good effect and could go one better with another summer of development under his belt.

Slade Steel

The 2024 Supreme Novice Hurdle champ skips a season in open company and heads straight over fences. Whilst beaten on his seasonal return, he went down to a smart rival in Better Days Ahead. That effort suggested he has room for improvement in the jumping department and he will no doubt be aimed at the seasons leading novice events.

Nine for the Horse Tracker

De Bromhead boasts an enviable array of Grade 1 talent in his 100-strong team, but we suspect there may be further top-tier talent lurking elsewhere in the Knockeen yard. Hopefully, the following nine stars will help the trainer on his way to a first 100-winner campaign.

• Birdie Or Bust – Having broken her duck in Maiden company on her final start of 2022/23, this JP McManus-owned mare progressed to Graded level in her second season over hurdles. Finishing off with a fine third in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, she is an intriguing addition to the Novice Chase division. She managed only fourth in her comeback at Navan but jumped brilliantly throughout and is sure to improve with that run under her belt.   
• Chigorin – Having won his maiden hurdle in grand style, this Shantou gelding ran no sort of race in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle. However, he wouldn’t be the first horse to bounce back from a poor outing in that event, and we are keen to give him another chance – particularly as he makes the switch to fences this term. Boasting the physique to thrive in the chasing sphere, he could be one to follow in staying contests.

• Forty Coats – An impressive winner of a Point to Point and Bumper last season, this son of Diamond Boy returned with a second to Wingmen on his hurdles debut at Navan. There was a 16-length back to the third that day, and Gordon Elliott holds the winner in high regard. Granted normal improvement, Forty Coats should soon go one better. 
• Hiddenvalley Lake – Despite always looking like a chaser in the making, this Robcour runner picked up three wins over hurdles, including the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle. An initial crack at chasing was abandoned after a fall in his first outing, but it may be worth noting that connections are keen to tackle fences again this season. Last sighted finishing third in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle, he can reach a similar level over the larger obstacles.
• Inthepocket – Having shot through the ranks in 2022/23, Inthepocket missed the bulk of last season through injury. However, he returned with an immaculate round of jumping in a 15-length romp at Wexford. It’s not always easy to weigh up early season events such as that, but the runner-up Farren Glory did his bit to frank the form when hacking up at Naas on his next outing. A Grade 1 winner in his Novice Hurdling days, this son of Blue Bresil looks back on track.
• Journey With Me – Also running in the Robcour colours, this eight-year-old isn’t the most consistent sort but looks the type to pop up in a 2m4f Graded hurdle. Having given weight and a comfortable beating to Appreciate It and Limerick Lace in the past two seasons, he shouldn’t be underestimated on his favoured soft/heavy ground.
• Mossy Fen Park – Second in a Grade 2 on his final start over hurdles, this son of Walk In The Park did well to get as close as he did to the 151-rated hurdler Firefox on his chase debut at Down Royal. Looking like a natural over fences that day, this lightly raced sort is expected to excel when stepped up to 3m.
• Sky Lord – By Blue Bresil and a half-brother to the 137+ rated hurdlers Le Milos and Kid Commando, this five-year-old catches the eye on pedigree. Raced only once in 2024, he finished a narrow second in a Bumper to subsequent 6l Maiden Hurdle winner Sporting Glory. One to follow as he sets out over obstacles.
• Waterford Whispers – This lightly raced sort posted a fine effort to finish second to Better Days Ahead in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Sent chasing this term, he seems likely to build on his hurdles mark of 135.

Paul Harrison

Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.