De Bromhead emulates father 25 years on

Champagne West gave Henry de Bromhead his first Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon on the 25th anniversary of his father’s success in the historic race.

Harry de Bromhead landed the three-mile one-furlong prize with Grand Habit in 1992 and the family name was back on the prize today after Roger Brookhouse’s charge made all for an impressive win.

David Mullins’ mount, sent to post a 7/1 shot, jumped well at the head of the affairs bar a slight mistake at the fifth last. Ucello Conti looked a threat turning for home in the €100,00 contest but Champagne West skipped clear going to the second last.

He stayed on strongly in the closing stages to record a comprehensive seven-and-a-half length success.

“I’m delighted for Roger as he’s given us some really nice horses and it’s just fantastic to win the race,” said de Bromhead.

“David gave him a brilliant ride as he’s not easy. He sat so quietly on him which we hoped was the key to him. Bar the fifth last he jumped really well.

“We’ve done a fair bit of work with him (on jumping) but it’s there and it’s just as much confidence as well.

“He likes to gallop and jump and bar the fifth last he was brilliant. He just guessed at that a little bit.

“Off 154 you probably need to be a Grade 1 horse and hopefully we might be.

“He’s entered in races at Cheltenham and is entered in the Gold Cup but that’s a big step. We’ll enjoy today, speak to Roger and then go from there.

“He’s probably going to get a bit of a hike for that. I was going to come back here for the Red Mills if he had stopped at the third last and we might still do that, I’m not sure yet.

“He’ll be entered for Aintree (Grand National). He was always going to be entered in it.

“I thought ground was more important, and I wasn’t sure if it was soft enough for him today, but it’s possibly not having seen him today.

“My father happened to win it 25 years ago so I’m delighted to win it for the first time.

“It’s one that he can’t say he got and I didn’t when we are having a row at the table or whatever.

“I remember well when he won it. He had a double on the day, as Bishops Hall won the same day.

“I was in Dublin and did a pound each-way double. I think I was seen in every pub in Dublin for the week!

Different class - Champagne West serves up a sparkling performance in the Goffs Thyestes Chase at @GowranPark1: pic.twitter.com/tbENLZIf7v

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 26, 2017

“It’s been an incredible season. We’ve had amazing support, fantastic owners and lovely horses.

“I have a great team behind me and I’m very lucky things are going the way they are.

“Fair play to him, Gordon has had a real stranglehold on these races this year. I was expecting something to come in some coloured cap over the last few fences.

“It happened to us on Sunday when we got chinned on the line so it’s nice to get one. It’s so competitive at the moment.”