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Cheltenham Festival hero Harry de Bromhead dies aged 86 as racing and son Henry remember a ‘real gentleman’

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CHELTENHAM Festival hero Harry de Bromhead – the father of legendary trainer Henry – has sadly died aged 86.

Hailed as a ‘true gentleman’ and ‘fantastic trainer’, this is the second tragedy to hit the de Bromhead family in the past year after Henry’s son Jack died at just 13 last September.

Harry put the family yard in Knockeen, Co Waterford, on the map and paved the way for Henry to thrive at Cheltenham and beyond.

De Bromhead senior won the 1993 Pertemps Final with Fissure Seal before claiming the Punchestown Gold Cup just over a month later.

He also trained Grand Habit to victory in the 1992 Thyestes Chase at Gowranw hile Bishops Hall won the 1996 Kerry National.

Henry, who has won the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase at Cheltenham Festival, took over from his dad in 2000 and would go onto win the Grand National in 2021.

Tramore racecourse were among the first to pay tribute to a huge figure in the sport, tweeting last night: “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Harry de Bromhead.

“A fantastic trainer, a true gentleman and a great friend of Tramore racecourse.

“May he rest in peace.”

One racing follower replying to the post wrote: “A thorough gentleman. A great trainer and always lovely to meet him.

“Deepest condolences to his family. He’s with Jack now. RIP Harry.”

While another said: “So sad for all the family. May he rest in peace.”

Famed jockey Charlie Swan, who claimed that Cheltenham success for Harry, told the Racing Post: “Harry was such a lovely man.

“There was never a cross word said about Harry over the years. Everybody liked him.”

Henry has shown tremendous dignity in the face of such personal heartbreak over the past 12 months.

His son Jack tragically died after a pony racing accident at Glenbeigh Festival on Rossbeigh beach in Co Kerry.

The trainer and wife Heather remembered him in a post, which read: “On September 3, we said goodbye to our extraordinary, beautiful 13-year-old-son, Jack.

“A one-of-a-kind child who touched all our lives in the best way possible – he will be forever present in our lives.

“Always cherished, always loved, frozen in time with a beautiful young soul.

“He was an amazing son who told us he loved us every day.”

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