Size fits for De Bromhead
Henry De Bromhead can be forgiven for thinking he is in the middle of a beautiful dream.
Six months ago the affable 35-year-old was virtually unknown to the racing world at large.
Now he and Sizing Europe are Ireland’s principal hopes of returning the Champion Hurdle safely back to its spiritual home.
“Every day I have to pinch myself,” said the County Waterford-based handler.
“It really has been unbelievable. We’ve had enough bad times over the years so it’s fantastic we are having a good one.
“It’s just amazing to be talked about for all the right reasons.”
Observers this side of the Irish Sea were still entitled to ask ’Henry who?’ when Sizing Europe battered Osana into submission in the Greatwood Hurdle on a vile November afternoon at Cheltenham.
But those oblivious to the duo’s talents before were certainly alive to De Bromhead and his stable luminary at Leopardstown two months later.
Hype can often be a racehorse’s worst enemy but the six-year-old’s contemptuous dismissal of Hardy Eustace had even the soberest of hearts quivering after the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle.
“The AIG was definitely his defining moment so far,” reflected De Bromhead.
“We obviously knew he was very good but probably didn’t think he was as good as that.”
Just how good remains to be seen, for the Champion Hurdle obviously represents an entirely different ball game.
But few could crib his right to be at the head of the betting for the race which in recent years has served as the lifeblood for Irish hopes and dreams at the Festival.
“I know we are the favourite but it would be madness to take anything for granted,” said De Bromhead.
“Every horse in that field will deserve all the respect in the world. There will be some great horses in there like Osana, Afsoun and Straw Bear and all of them will be seasoned campaigners.
“I just want to get him there in the peak of his health and then we’ll let nature take its course.”
Having taken over the reins from his father, Harry, eight years ago, De Bromhead’s transition from apprentice to sorcerer was hardly founded in serendipity or nepotism.
De Bromhead jnr firstly discovered about the mechanics of the sport from his dad, whose string was modest but utterly effective.
So effective, in fact, that Harry De Bromhead nurtured Fissure Seal to win the American Express Gold Card Hurdle Final at the Cheltenham Festival in 1993.
“Dad always had nice horses, albeit with a smaller operation than us,” reflected the Knockeen trainer.
“I’ve just carried on from where he left off. When Fissure Seal won at Cheltenham I travelled over with the horse and it was just a special occasion from start to finish.
“Then again, it’s a bit different to training the favourite for the Champion Hurdle.”
Sizing Europe’s rise and rise may not have been possible, however, without his trainer spending an inspirational year at Robert Alner’s yard in 1994.
Not only did De Bromhead refine his burgeoning skills with thoroughbreds, his time in Droop also brought him into contact with Cool Dawn, the 1997 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
He said: “I used to ride Cool Dawn before he went point-to-pointing and that was some experience. He was an unbelievable horse – I couldn’t believe how good he was.”
The mid-90s was an important time for De Bromhead as the Irish tyro moulded his craft alongside one of Flat racing’s shrewdest operators, Mark Prescott.
He spent two informative years as assistant for Prescott in Newmarket before returning to Ireland to pick up the gauntlet from his old man.
“In England I was very fortunate to have spent so much time around great horses like Sir Mark’s Pivotal and of course, Cool Dawn,” said De Bromhead.
“But from my point of view Sizing Europe’s the best horse I’ve ever trained. Whether he’s good enough to win a Champion Hurdle we will wait and see, but I think he’s good enough.
“It’s just so exciting to have the favourite for the Champion Hurdle.
“Nothing can beat that.”
That should also apply to Sizing Europe if he runs to form in the Cotswolds.
