Principal Jockeys:
Andrew Lynch, Mick Darcy, Andrew McNamara
Notable Wins:
- Byrne Group plc Novice Hurdle: Mister Watzisname 2008
- AIG Champion Hurdle: Sizing Europe 2008
- Greatwood Handicap Hurdle: Sizing Europe 2007
- paddypowerpoker.com Handicap Hurdle: Whatareyouhaving 2005
- Murphy's Handicap Hurdle: Whatareyouhaving 2004
- Clarkson Financial Handicap Chase: Feeling Grand 2001
Since Henry de Bromhead took over the reins at his father’s Co. Waterford yard in 1999, he has gradually built a reputation as a shrewd and able trainer. He has well and truly been launched onto the international stage by the emergence of Sizing Europe as one of the leading hurdlers of his generation and that horse could well give De Bromhead another Grade 1 win in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.
De Bromhead made the perfect start to his training career when saddling a winner with his very first runner, Fidalus, at Tramore on New Year's Day 2000 and his tally of winners has steadily grown ever since. The likes of Feeling Grand, River Clodagh and Whatareyouhaving were fine servants to the yard in the early stages of De Bromhead’s career, but the quality of his horses has steadily risen in recent years and the yard has well and truly emerged into the big time since Sizing Europe burst onto the scene.
Owned by Alan Potts, Sizing Europe began his career in bumpers, winning one of those events at the third attempt when prevailing at Naas in October 2006. He got off the mark over hurdles at the first attempt the following month, landing a gamble when winning a maiden hurdle at Newbury. He was upped to Grade 2 novice hurdle company on his next two starts, but was slightly disappointing in finishing third and fifth respectively. However, he delivered on his early promise when winning a competitive novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, beating the subsequent Grade 1-winning chaser Big Zeb in great style.
Following that victory, De Bromhead’s hopes were high that Sizing Europe would develop in a Graded performer in 2007/8 and his ambitions were more than realised. He looked set to make a winning return to action in a conditions hurdle at Punchestown when falling at the second last, but he made no mistake the following month when winning the prestigious Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham November meeting in great style, stamping himself as a possible Champion Hurdle contender. While he missed an intended engagement in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas, he did line up for the AIG Champion Hurdle at the same venue in late-January, with a group of well-established Grade 1 hurdlers in opposition. However, De Bromhead’s pride and joy took the step up in class readily in his stride, putting up what was heralded in some quarters as the most impressive hurdling performance since the Istabraq era by beating Hardy Eustace by no less than eight imperious lengths. It was an incredibly impressive performance that saw him immediately jump to the front of the market for the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, but that race resulted in disappointment. Sent off as the 2/1 favourite, Sizing Europe looked to be travelling exceptionally well when challenging 2 out, only to jump that flight awkwardly and injure his back, being eased right down to finish tailed off. It was undoubtedly the most disappointing day of De Bromhead’s career, but the injury was minor and his charge soon recovered, for all that his connections decided not to run him again that season.
Since the emergence of Sizing Europe, De Bromhead has tasted valuable success with a number of other talented horses, with Mister Watzisname winning a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Naas last February and Oscar India winning two valuable handicap chases in May and November respectively. In the meantime, Sizing Europe made a highly-encouraging return to action in the Grade 1 Maplewood Developments Hurdle at Punchestown, shaping as if in need of the run in finishing second to Hardy Eustace. With that run under his belt, he looks sure to take all the beating in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown and get his bid for Cheltenham Champion Hurdle compensation back on track.
Updated: December 2008
