De Bromheads hail late son’s pals as they offer support at Cheltenham race named in his honour
There was no way Jack de Bromhead would have approved of his family winning a race that ran under his name because Jack didn’t do cliches – absolutely not, his mother Heather said yesterday.
nd so, fittingly, on a day that was a premature St Patrick’s Day celebration at Cheltenham, the family won the Grade One Ryanair Chase with Rachael Blackmore on Envoi Allen rather than the Mares Novices’ Hurdle that had been named for the late 13-year-old jockey.
The family knew that was exactly how their “Jacksie” would have liked it. The De Bromheads’ horse, Magical Zoe, was second past the post.
Up on the podium for the presentation to the English team behind the 16-1 winner, You Wear It Well, trained by Jamie Snowden, an exuberant gaggle of youngsters laughed and joked and looked around them, marvelling at the huge sweeping amphitheatre of Cheltenham.
At the centre of them were Mia, Jack’s twin sister, and their younger sister, Georgia, whom we had heard during his funeral was “more like a triplet to him”.
British royal Zara Tindall chatted warmly with the De Bromhead girls afterwards.
In a gesture that meant the world to the family, Jack’s loyal band of friends, who have stayed close to the De Bromheads in the wake of his tragic death in a fall during a beach race last September, were also there to savour a special day.
“They come and stay with us every two or three weeks. They loved Jack so much, the bond is still there and we live vicariously through them,” Heather said.
It had been a hugely emotional week for the family.
Tuesday – when the De Bromheads had their emotional swansong win with Honeysuckle, again with Blackmore on board – was “really beautiful”, Heather said.
“We got a beautiful rainbow and we got a rainbow at home. That always gives me great comfort that he’s really with us in a parallel universe, but he is with us,” she added.
She described the renaming of the Mares Novices’ Hurdle as a lovely tribute to Jack and gave “a massive thank you” to Michael O’Leary and his wife Anita for the special gesture.
Jack’s friends had joined them in Cheltenham on what was “an emotional day” Heather said. “All his beautiful friends came to support him and the girls. It is huge. I was just laughing, saying Jack gave us the Grade One today, but I think it would have been a terrible cliche if we won this race and he doesn’t do cliches – absolutely not.”
Speaking of Jack’s sisters and friends, she added: “It was an epic day and it was wonderful for them to experience Cheltenham and this amazing amphitheatre.”
She said their daughters Georgia and Mia have had “a blast”.
Crowd-wise, it was somewhat quieter on a damp day at Prestbury Park ahead of the eagerly-awaited Gold Cup today.
It was officially dubbed St Patrick’s Thursday on the course. Paddy Power had a choir in green scarves at the entrance to welcome punters, the Guinness Village was heaving and there was even coddle on the menu in the hospitality tents.
Lightning struck twice for New York-based friends Niall Reilly, Aidan Shiels and Charlie Gavigan when their horse, Good Time Jonny, romped home at 9-1 in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.
The three amigos had a previous win with another horse at Cheltenham in 2013.
Niall and Aidan are partners in the construction industry and Aidan also runs the Irish Rover pub in Queens.
A jubilant Niall, who is from Julianstown, Co Meath, said: “I remember when Cheltenham used to be on when I was in school back in Julianstown.
“I’d write a line of bets for my mother, 10p each way, and here we are living the dream with a winner in Cheltenham.”
It was a first Cheltenham Festival win for jockey Liam McKenna – on board Tony Martin’s Good Time Jonny – who broke his collarbone in the Irish Grand National last April and then broke his cheekbone in Listowel last September.
In the ring for the presentation was English TV personality Carol Vorderman.
“I’ve been every day this week. I just love Cheltenham – it’s my favourite,” she said.
