Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a birthday double at Cheltenham when Dancing On My Own and Whacker Clan powered up the famous hill in front.
De Bromhead, who was celebrating his 51st birthday, got the day off to the best possible start with the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Dancing On My Own in the Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase.
The race was still in the balance on the approach to the last as Gary Moore's Haddex Des Obeaux, who had made every yard of the running, was still holding a slender lead when coming down at the final fence.
Having set a searching gallop, Haddex Des Obeaux had seen them all off bar the eventual winner and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Guy, who were the only three in contention for the final half mile.
As Guy began to weaken up the hill and Haddex Des Obeaux came down, Dancing On My Own (14-1), the winner of Aintree’s Red Rum Chase in April, was left to come home alone. He had two lengths to spare over Triple Trade, with In Excelsis Deo and Notlongtillmay both making good progress for minor honours.
Dancing On My Own lands the spoils in a dramatic conclusion to the Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase, at 14-1 for Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead @HenrydeBromhead @WilliamHill pic.twitter.com/T9l5PgEkpY
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) October 28, 2023
De Bromhead said: "Rachael gave him a super ride, she was brilliant on him.
"I was worried about his big weight and he was up 7lb for Aintree but I’m delighted with him, he jumped super.
"He’s funny, he just loves to go a good decent gallop the whole way, so the other horse going on suited him, and Rachael knows him better than anyone.
"Let’s see what the handicapper thinks, but he could come back for the Schloer maybe, we might need to look at conditions chases as he’s boxing up there.
"We haven’t managed to win the two-mile division (Queen Mother) but even with Energumene out, there are plenty of good horses in it."
De Bromhead ran two in the Epic Jumps Season At William Hill Handicap Chase, with Blackmore on Amirite but it was the Darragh O’Keeffe-ridden Whacker Clan (12-1) who jumped his rivals into submission from the front.
He looked a sitting duck as Twig challenged over the last but pulled out more to win by three lengths.
Whacker Clan delivers an impressive front-running performance to land the Epic Jumps Season @WilliamHill Handicap Chase for Darragh O'Keeffe and Henry De Bromhead @HenrydeBromhead pic.twitter.com/AkDJM8rfqk
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) October 28, 2023
"He’s a hardy fella and has just been progressing. A lot of plans were hatched for him in the Strand hotel at Dunmore East. It’s one of those pubs, and the syndicate members are very enthusiastic," said De Bromhead.
"He might be a horse that could get into the Kim Muir but we need to back off him."
Louise Foyle, one of the winning owners, said: "Henry’s our local trainer and we have three in syndicates with him. The Strand is our family business and we love a party. We’ve been coming for years, and it’s amazing to see our own horse win."
Dual Stayers' Hurdle winner Flooring Porter made the perfect start to his new career when making nearly all the running in the William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Novices’ Chase.
Turning his hand to chasing late in life as an eight-year-old, connections felt now was the time for the switch given he failed to win a race last season.
Ridden by new partner Keith Donoghue in place of Danny Mullins, he set out to make all but was soon hassled for the lead by Broadway Boy, one of two runners for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Despite lacking the size and scope of his rivals, Flooring Porter (6-4 favourite) was foot perfect on the first circuit, although when the pace quickened on the second time around, there were a couple of blips.
He left his hind legs in one fence down the back straight and then took off too early at the open ditch, but he never looked like falling.
Donoghue seemed keen to hold on to his head for as long as possible as Broadway Boy and his stablemate Weveallbeencaught loomed up behind him, but good jumps at the last two enabled his class to come to the fore and he skipped clear to win by two and a half lengths.
"I know he was ahead of the others on his rating and that he’s still a high-profile horse, although not as much as he was," said Cromwell.
"But he’s not very big, which made the way he jumped so pleasing.
"I thought he could do that, and it’s always great to see that the engine is still there."
