Catherine Power There were smiles all round at Henry De Bromhead’s Knockeen yard on Monday morning as the press gathered to photograph the Waterford trainer’s champions and reflect on another brilliant week at Cheltenham. It was a very relaxed De Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore who paraded Honeysuckle, Bob...
Tag: Cheltenham
Mullins string in fine form
Mullins string in fine form
Neil O’Donnell Willie Mullins has his string in fine form ahead of the Cheltenham Festival which begins next Tuesday with five winners and three second places from 11 runners this past week. The Closutton handler however didn’t have any runners at the first meeting of last week at |Clonmel on Thursday last where Paul...
Hail All The Queen Of Killenaule
Hail All The Queen Of Killenaule
Jordan Norris In a week where one member of royalty departed this earth, a queen from the tiny town of Killenaule made history – leaving behind a legacy of her own unlikely to ever be eclipsed. I feel like a broken record when it comes to Rachael Blackmore, but every time she does something otherworldly, she...
De Bromhead’s Grand National Glory
De Bromhead’s Grand National Glory
Jordan Norris There was Aintree ecstasy for Waterford on Saturday as local trainer Henry De Bromhead had the first two home in the Grand National. The Knockeen trainer’s ‘Minella Times’, owned by JP McManus, was the victor of the famous steeplechase at odds of 11/1, with Killenaule jockey Rachael Blackmore becoming...
Laochra Na Rasaiochta: Dawn Run
Laochra Na Rasaiochta: Dawn Run
Jordan Norris Every now and then, a horse captures the heart of an entire nation. Such was the case in entirety, when it came to Dawn Run. TG4’s Laochra na Rásaíochta takes a look at Ireland’s most famous National Hunt horses from the 1970s right up to present day, recounting their most brilliant feats through...
The Final Furlong: A week beyond the wildest of dreams
The Final Furlong: A week beyond the wildest of dreams
Jordan Norris Adversity is not always a stumbling block. At times, it proves to be a stepping stone where the only way is up – forging a path to greatness. It’s incredibly hard to find the words to sum up some of the things we’ve been lucky enough to witness in the past week, but I’m going to try to. With the...
The man with the Midas touch
The man with the Midas touch
Henry De Bromhead achieves ‘Holy Trinity’ with Gold Cup glory Catherine Power Having two horses good enough to contend the Cheltenham Gold Cup is an achievement in itself but watching them come home first and second in the Blue Riband of national hunt racing is the stuff of dreams, mind boggling even....
Sean Houlihan: “My mam thought I’d be back after a year to go to college”
Sean Houlihan: “My mam thought I’d be back after a year to go to college”
Jockey Sean Houlihan chats with the Munster Express on his career, brotherhood and future ambitions Jordan Norris When Sean Houlihan headed to England after sitting his Leaving Certificate, his mother thought he’d be back in a year. Seven and a half years later and there’s still no sign of him – but there’s...
The Final Furlong: 2021 Cheltenham Festival Special
The Final Furlong: 2021 Cheltenham Festival Special
Jordan Norris Christmas is around the corner. The Cheltenham Festival is finally on the horizon – another four days of normality amidst the growing monotony of our draconian COVID society. Enough of that – racing, racing, racing. Four days, 28 races – I’ve tried my best to keep a close eye...
2021 Cheltenham Festival Preview – Magical Waterford Memories
2021 Cheltenham Festival Preview – Magical Waterford Memories
Catherine Power Given the strength in particular of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott over the past few years, it’s easy to forget that the Cheltenham Festival wasn’t always a happy hunting ground for Irish trainers. The late 80’s were particularly bad. In 1989 there was no Irish trainer winner of the Cheltenham...