Henry de Bromhead is a serial winner at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years, with 15 of his career total of 33 winners at the meeting having come since 2020.

De Bromhead has bagged two Gold Cups, two Champions Hurdles and two Queen Mother Champion Chases during that spell and will be eager to have his string in top shape for the Cotswolds showpiece once more.

How will the De Bromhead team fare at this year’s Cheltenham Festival? We consider some of the best hopes for the Knockeen team and have the trainer's previous Festival tallies below.

Henry de Bromhead's Cheltenham winners by year

2010 — 1

2011 — 2

2017 — 1

2018 — 1

2019 — 2

2020 — 2

2021 — 6

2022 — 3

2023 — 3

2024 — 2

Potential Cheltenham contenders in 2025

Bob Olinger

At times he has been written off, but Bob Olinger will head for Cheltenham with a perfect 3-3 record at the course, including two Festival wins. He won the 2m4f Relkeel Hurdle on New Year's Day in 2024 and has twice finished second in Grade 1s over 2m4f/3m at Aintree and Leopardstown since. He's got a Stayers' Hurdle ticket in his grasp.

Captain Guinness

Captain Guinness won the Queen Mother Champion Chase last March by a process of elimination last season, as major contenders dropped out before and during the race, leaving Rachael Blackmore's mount to fend off Gentleman De Mee. He's toiled this season and a successful defence looks improbable.

Envoi Allen

A three-time Festival winner, he's bagged the bumper, a Grade 1 novice over hurdles and a Ryanair Chase, while he was third in a Champion Chase in 2022. Last year, Envoi Allen found only Protektorat too good in the defence of his Ryanair crown and he's a contender again despite advancing years.

Inthepocket

A Grade 1-winning novice hurdler in 2023 at Aintree, connections have had to be patient since, but he won well at Wexford in October despite a 345-day absence and was third behind Ile Atlantique and Firefox at Naas in Grade 2 company since. Given De Bromhead's ability with two-mile chasers, don't rule out a leap forward in the Arkle.

Monty's Star

A bit of nearly horse since winning a beginners' chase at Punchestown last season, he has played second fiddle to the likes of Fact To File, Spillane's Tower and Embassy Gardens since. An out-and-out stamina test could be the making of him and the Gold Cup remains 'the dream' as owner Barry Maloney and De Bromhead seek to win the big one for a second time together.

Quilixios

Winner of the Triumph Hurdle at this meeting in 2021, his only Cheltenham start since saw him down the field in the Arkle last season. Quilixios still has low-mileage on the clock and started this term by defeating Marine Nationale in a Naas Grade 3 before finishing second to Jonbon in the Tingle Creek. Turning things around with the latter in a Champion Chase will be tough, though De Bromhead has an incredible track record in the race. He's rated 156 over fences, and the handicaps aren't out of the question.

Slade Steel

Winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last March, Slade Steel was only second on his first two starts over the larger obstacles this campaign but that rates as strong form. A Graded race in the Cotswolds is off the agenda, but the newly introduced Turners Novices' Handicap Chase over two-and-a-half-miles remains a possibility and his Festival form will be a positive for many eyes.

Waterford Whispers

The JP McManus-owned Waterford Whispers was inched out in the Martin Pipe at this meeting last season off a mark of 133. It hasn't happened for him since going chasing this campaign and there is always the option of going back over the smaller obstacles.

Verdict

De Bromhead is around 33/1 in the market to be Top Trainer at the Festival in 2025. The dominance of Willie Mullins is responsible in part for that, but it's also true to suggest that the Co Waterford ace doesn't quite appear to have the depth in his squad of recent seasons.

He's looking to make it nine successive Cheltenham Festivals with a winner on the board and that's probably realistic.

Equalling last year's tally of two would represent a good return and, if Bob Olinger or Hiddenvalley Lake could oblige in the Stayers' Hurdle to complete the set of Cheltenham's crown jewels, that would be quite something to celebrate.

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