Henry De Bromhead had a vintage season last term winning the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National, as well as numerous big winners on home soil in Ireland.
Calm and collected, he has now positioned himself at the very top of the training ranks in both the UK and Ireland, and rather than being a trainer with potential, he’s now one to be fully following ahead of the new campaign.
7yo, bay gelding
Form: /212-
Verdict: As consistent as ever last season and came close to winning the big one when just outstayed by Minella Indo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Prior to that he was second over two miles in the Fortria Chase at Navan and then won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. He was the pick of Rachel Blackmore in the Gold Cup, and you get the feeling they’ll be desperate to go one better this year, where they are expected to start their prep in Haydock’s Betfair Chase.
5yo, bay gelding
Form: /124-8
Verdict: Finished second in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle and ran with credit last season winning the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal. He was later second in the Matheson and fourth, beaten 11 lengths, in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. The Irish version at Punchestown proved a step too far, but he clearly has class and is one to be with this season.
10yo, chestnut gelding
Form: /4764U2-
Verdict: Now owned by the Racehorse Club, he gave his new owners a day to remember when running on strongly to finish second in the Grand National at Aintree in April as a 100/1 shot. You’d have to think that performance gives him another chance at the big one this season.
6yo, bay gelding
Form: /2111-
Verdict: An excellent winner of the Ballymore on his final start last season, Bob Olinger has now won four of his five racecourse starts, with Ferny Hollow the only horse to beat him so far. He’s a super exciting prospect to go chasing with this season and it will be a fascinating contender for the Marsh Novices’ Chase if he takes to fences like he did to hurdles.
6yo, bay gelding
Form: /P12F3-U
Verdict: Was up and down last season and is yet to really show his worth in Graded company where his form book at that level currently reads 2nd, brought down, fell, 3rd, unseated rider. His 2nd is perhaps the pick of his form, only narrowly beaten by Andy Dufresne, but in reality his best performances are outside of Graded races, and that is maybe where his winning opportunities will come over fences this season.
7yo, bay gelding
Form: 21/11U-
Verdict: This 7yo headed to the Cheltenham Festival this year after making it two from two over fences, and seemingly a genuine challenger to Monkfish in the Brown Advisory. In reality, he unseated at the 12th fence, and his lofty reputation has been knocked back a tad ahead of the new campaign.
7yo, bay gelding
Form: /111F-P
Verdict: Of all the horses that were moved stables as a result of the Gordon Elliott saga, Envoi Allen is the horse that had his performances on the racecourse affected the most. The 7yo was an absolute star prior to the switch to Henry De Bromhead, but has looked a shadow of his former self since then, falling at the Festival and pulling up at Punchestown. He’s been sent for wind surgery over the summer, and goes for the second season Novices’ race at Down Royal, where connections will be hoping he can get his career back on track.
7yo, bay mare
Form:/111-1
Verdict: Quite simply a mare in a million and racehorse of a lifetime. Honeysuckle remains unbeaten in one point-to-point and 12 races, and arguably produced her best season yet when winning the Hatton’s Grace, Irish Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last term. She was emphatic in winning at Cheltenham, and there’s no reason why she can’t take the lot again, starting with the Hatton’s Grace. She’s superb!
6yo, grey gelding
Form: /1255-
Verdict: Well thought of by Henry De Bromhead, he won his maiden at the first time of asking last season before progressing into Graded company where his best effort came when second to Appreciate It in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. He was later a well beaten fifth in the Supreme at Cheltenham, and it would be no surprise to see him go up in distance given his P2P background this term.
8yo, bay gelding
Form: /11F41-
Verdict: The Gold Cup champ was an excellent winner of the Cheltenham showpiece, extending his excellent record at Prestbury Park to two wins from three visits, including a runner-up effort in the RSA Chase. He won twice before the Gold Cup last season, but went into the big one as something of an outsider after falling in the Savills Chase and finishing 4th of 5 in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown. It’s unlikely he’ll go under the radar again and looks well capable of defending his crown next March, with the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal his likely starting point this season.
7yo, bay mare
Form: /2227-2
Verdict: A consistent performer in Graded races for the entirety of last season, finishing 2nd on four of her five starts. Her best effort came when runner-up in Grade One Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, where she bounced back to form after finishing well down the field in the Mares Hurdle at the Festival. Chasing could be an option, but you’d imagine she’d stay hurdling and follow a similar route to last season.
8yo, bay gelding
Form: /1221-
Verdict: The Grand National champ put the icing on the cake of a history-making season for Rachel Blackmore in winning the Aintree showpiece, and will be hoping to retain his crown next April. The JP McManus-owned 8yo, had ran well for the entirety of last season, never being outside the top two in three starts, but proved a real appetite for the marathon distance in Liverpool.
8yo, bay gelding
Form: /12377-
Verdict: The 2019/20 season was one to remember for Notebook, winning four of his five starts, including two Grade 1’s at Leopardstown. In contrast, he struggled to mix it in open company over fences this season, winning just once, and finishing down the field in Champion Chase at Cheltenham and last in the Melling Chase at Aintree. He’ll be hoping to refind his form this season.
7yo, bay mare
Form: /1314-
Verdict: They say that course form can often count for a lot around Cheltenham, and that has certainly been the case for Put The Kettle On, who is now unbeaten in four visits there, winning an Arkle trial, the Arkle, the Shloer Chase and most recently, the Champion Chase. It’s a record that is quite literally worth its weight in gold, and whenever she turns up there this season, she is a bet worth having. She was expected to start her new campaign in Gowran Park in early October but was deemed a non-runner because of the ground, but has made the trip to Cheltenham’s November meeting the last twice, and will likely target that route to the Festival again.
4yo, bay gelding
Form: 1/1111-7
Verdict: Another big name who made the switch from Elliott to De Bromhead prior to the Festival, but seemingly felt no ill-effects, winning the Triumph Hurdle in good fashion in the hands of Rachel Blackmore, pulling clear up the hill. He will start his new campaign at Down Royal, and looks as though he might be worth a go at 2m4f as the season progresses.
bay mareForm: /131131-5
Verdict: Looked a different mare last season, winning a maiden at Roscommon in June, before progressing nicely to win at Bellewstown and Listowel before the end of September. She was then given a mid-season break before returning to finish a close third in a valuable Mares handicap at Leopardstown and then going on to land the Mares’ Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in fine style. The Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle proved a bit too hot since then, but she’s a mare to follow this season and should go well again.
