KING HENRY’S GOLD71
Minella Indo foils Blackmore as De Bromhead completes an historic blue riband haul
IRISH maestro Henry De Bromhead was the toast of racing last night after he became the first trainer to capture Cheltenham’s “holy trinity” of championship races in the same year.
Minella Indo stormed up the hill to win the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup adding to the handler’s success in the Champion Hurdle and Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Minella Indo and Jack Kennedy repelled stablemate A Plus Tard up the famous hill – denying golden girl Rachael Blackmore the perfect end to a dream week.
Blackmore had the choice of riding the two De Bromhead beasts but picked the wrong one.
After Kennedy returned to the winner’s enclosure, De Bromhead said: “I think I’m still in the hotel – it’s Monday night and it is the start of the week and nothing has happened as of yet – it’s mad!
“I keep saying it’s amazing, but it genuinely is. Jack was brilliant.
“He’s just such a tough horse. It is all down to the crew at home and here.” Reflecting on the week’s achievements, De Bromhead added: “It’s massive and the Gold Cup is what you dream about winning. Any of these races, winners at Cheltenham, I can’t tell you how much they mean, you just dream about it.
“I’ve been coming here plenty of years with plenty of tough results but also some great ones.”
Blackmore had originally put her name down for Minella Indo but had a change of heart.
De Bromhead said: “Rachael did have the choice.
“I would always try to stay out of that as I would hate to put her the wrong way.” Unlike
Blackmore, who was not shedding any tears of regret, Kennedy was wiping them away. “It’s definitely the best day of my life,” said the 21-year-old.
“You dream about winning these sorts of
races when you’re a child. I thought I had as good a chance as any, to be honest. I had gone down to school Minella Indo at Henry’s, and a few of the lads in the yard were keen on him, so I was fairly confident going out on him.
“I suppose the fact that Rachael picked A Plus Tard probably took the pressure off as well.”
Al Boum Photo, who was attempting to emulateArkle and Best Mate by winning three straight Gold Cups, ran on to be third but was beaten by two better horses. The 2018 winner, Native River, stayed on bravely to be fourth with Frodon, who led the field a merry dance with Bryony Frost, in fifth. The race was a nightmare for Nicky Henderson with Champ and Santini both pulled up early in the race.
Champ made mistakes at the first three fences before being pulled up before the seventh obstacle by Nico de Boinville.
Last year’s runner-up Santini turned in a laboured effort in a first-time visor, with jockey Aidan Coleman drawing stumps after the seventh fence.
Henderson said: “I came here with two good horses and I couldn’t believe how quickly it was all over for us.
“If anything comes to light we’ll say something but at the moment it’s inexplicable and very sad.”
There will be no instant celebrations for De Bromhead.
“It will be me myself in the car and on the ferry,’ he added.
“There’s no celebrating. It will be quarantine for five days when I get back home.”
But with his cousin John continuing the business of blending the renowned Henry Downes No 9 whiskey at the family pub in Waterford, there will be no shortage of drinks for the king of Cheltenham when he is allowed out.