History was made on final day of the Cheltenham Festival today (19 March) when Henry De Bromhead became the first ever trainer to send out the winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and the Champion Chase at the same meeting.
It was Minella Indo who brought the Irish trainer his ever first victory in the Gold Cup under Jack Kennedy for owner Barry Maloney, overturning A Plus Tard, who is also trained by Henry, and 2019 and 2020 Gold Cup Victor Al Boum Photo, who finished second and third respectively.
“I can’t believe it. This is what I’ve dreamt of since I was a child,” said an emotional Jack Kennedy, who has been plagued by a plethora of injuries during his career. “I’m so grateful to Henry and Barry for giving me this opportunity — I’ll owe them forever. This is what I live for and I just can’t believe this has actually happened to me.
“I hit the front very soon on Minella Indo but I didn’t want to disappoint him and take him back. We landed over the last and he pricked his ears and was pulling himself up but not through tiredness — then he heard Rachael [Blackmore] coming and went again.”
“It’s unbelievable and I’m delighted for everyone — he’s an incredible horse and he comes alive here,” said Henry of Minella Indo. “In my head it’s still Monday evening and I’m about to wake up in my hotel room and nothing has even started yet — it’s brilliant and both Jack and Rachael are amazing.”
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