Henry De Bromhead: "every little bit of support gives us strength"

Henry de Bromhead told Racing TV viewers on Thursday that he and his family had been overwhelmed by the support of the racing industry during the most difficult of times.

The County Waterford handler saddled a double at Thurles as he returned to the track for the first time since the tragic death of his son Jack, 13, in a pony racing accident on September 3.

Ruby Walsh had just concluded an intervew with De Bromhead after he had saddled the first of his two winners when the trainer asked to add extra to their conversation.

He said: “We’ve had a pretty tough time, but the support from within our family, friends and our industry and all over has been unbelievable and Heather, Georgia, Mia and myself have been blown away by it.

“Every bit of support we get gives us a little bit of strength and we feel incredibly lucky to have everyone around us.”

Earlier, he had told Walsh he will be taking familiar routes with some of his stable stars as the jumps season begins to kick in to action.

A Plus Tard landed the Betfair Chase en route to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory last season and will begin his campaign at Haydock once again, while dual Champion Hurdle victor Honeysuckle will attempt to win the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle for the fourth year in a row as she begins what is set to be her final year on track.

Meanwhile 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo will attempt to follow in the footsteps of dual-Cheltenham winner Al Boum Photo when he starts off at Tramore on New Year’s Day, with Bob Olinger reverting to the smaller obstacles following a disappointing end to last season over fences.

He said: “I’m really happy with them all, they are all working well getting warmed up. I would say A Plus Tard would go back to Haydock – that is the plan at the moment.

“Honeysuckle will go to the Hatton’s Grace and Minella Indo will probably go to Tramore on New Year’s Day – it’s a great place and that is the plan at the moment.

“Bob (Olinger), will probably go back hurdling. We’ll start in the Lismullen at Navan and then I think he could go either way. He has so much class and I don’t know what happened Cheltenham onwards and that was a big mistake by me running him at Punchestown. Maybe it’s just fences – I hope it is – his work is high class.”

De Bromhead’s Thursday winners were ridden by Mark Walsh and Darragh O’Keeffe as stable jockey Rachael Blackmore suffered an injury while schooling which is set to keep her out of action for a few days.