Dancing On My Own delights birthday boy De Bromhead

Irish raider kept on well to score at Cheltenham under Rachael Blackmore.

Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a birthday winner at Cheltenham when Dancing On My Own was driven home by Rachael Blackmore in the Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase.

De Bromhead was celebrating his 51st birthday but 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.

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.”

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