De Bromhead happy to have Chief for Aintree

Image via @hernon-michael

Henry de Bromhead knows exactly what it takes to win the Grand National at Aintree and the Irish handler is looking to target the big race in the spring of 2025 with Senior Chief.

The Co Waterford handler won the race in 2021 with Minella Times, as Rachael Blackmore famously became the first female rider to taste Grand National glory.

Now de Bromhead is hoping that Senior Chief can develop into a contender for the marathon on Merseyside.

Cheltenham comeback success

Senior Chief led home a one-two for de Bromhead in the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase at Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting in late October.

Sent off an 11/1 shot in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe, with his stablemate The Short Go slightly shorter in the betting at 9/1 under Jordan Gainford, it was the former that came up the Cheltenham hill in front by a length-and-a-quarter.

Making his first appearance since being pulled up as a leading contender for the Irish Grand National in the spring, Senior Chief took over at the head of affairs from the pacesetting pair of 9/4 favourite Broadway Boy and Cheltenham specialist Does He Know.

Sporting first-time cheekpieces and showing an upturn in form, O’Keefe’s partner answered his every call after picking up the running early in the home straight.

Patience pays off after Fairyhouse

De Bromhead acknowledged the Irish National last spring was a disappointment but he says connections were patient after that setback and he felt the new cheekpieces helped his horse to concentrate on the task at hand late in the race.

“Senior Chief was disappointing in the (Irish) National, he was nearly favourite that day, but the lads were patient, we gave him a good break and I’m delighted for them,” said the trainer.

“The cheekpieces were just to make him focus. He’s very genuine, but sometimes at the end of the race he’d just look around a bit.”

Aintree the plan for the spring

Senior Chief got a quote for the Grand National at Aintree in the aftermath of his Cheltenham success and de Bromhead says that a run in the race could be the way to go.

It’s a target he has long held and he isn’t letting his Fairyhouse run overpower that notion at this stage.

“The English National has always been in my head for him, just the Irish National threw me a little bit. I wonder is he better left-handed than right-handed? I’m not sure, I’m probably mad,” he mused.

“I haven’t spoken to the lads, the plan was to win a big handicap somewhere as we felt he was entitled to and it’s brilliant he’s done.

“Last year, before the Irish National, I felt he was an English National horse and he failed to see it out, but I wouldn’t write it off yet.”