'We're taking one day at a time' - De Bromhead on coping with death of son Jack

Henry de Bromhead has offered a heartfelt appreciation to the racing community for its support in the wake of his son Jack's tragic death following a fall at Glenbeigh horse and pony races on Rossbeigh Strand last month.

The County Waterford trainer was speaking after securing a short-priced double at Thurles on Thursday, achieved without the services of stable jockey Rachael Blackmore, who is facing a few days on the sidelines after a schooling fall on Wednesday.

De Bromhead reported his legion of equine stars such as A Plus Tard and Honeysuckle to be in good shape ahead of their imminent returns and revealed there will be varying changes in approach for Bob Olinger, Minella Indo and Envoi Allen.

However, such matters are trivial when viewed in the context of what De Bromhead, his wife Heather and their two other children, Mia and Georgia, have endured since 13-year-old Jack suffered his fatal fall on September 3.

In a moving tribute published the following day, Henry and Heather described the popular teenager as a "one-of-a-kind child", and on Thursday the trainer acknowledged the groundswell of support they have received.

"We're taking one day at a time," De Bromhead said of how they are coping with such a devastating loss.

Jack de Bromhead, who died following a fall at Glenbeigh horse and pony races on Rossbeigh Strand last monthCredit: Healy Racing

"We get great strength from all the support we get and we're just working away. The racing industry has been so kind and our friends and family have been incredible. We've been racing a few days and it is nice being back.

"Our team that work with us have been amazing as well so everyone has been so supportive, and we really appreciate it."

De Bromhead will be back on duty at Cheltenham on Friday, and his Knockeen stable is also due to field a runner there on Saturday.

Darragh O'Keeffe will deputise for Blackmore on Champagne Gold in the novice handicap chase on Friday and aboard Life In The Park in Saturday's Jim Wilson Memorial Novices' Chase.

A return to some form of normality is what his son would have wanted, De Bromhead said.

"It's good to be back and I know Jacksie wouldn't want us stuck at home, so we've got to try and move on and keep moving forward."

To that end, he will soon unleash some of jump racing's most precious talent. For the brilliant reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle winners A Plus Tard and Honeysuckle, it will be the tried-and-tested route.

That means A Plus Tard will begin with a bid for a second Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19, while Honeysuckle will vie for a record fourth Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 4.

"All is good with A Plus Tard and he will go back to Haydock," De Bromhead said. "We've been very happy with him and I don't think we have any reason to vary the plan.

A Plus Tard: the Gold Cup winner is set to once again return in next month's Betfair ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"Honeysuckle seems great. She is working well and will head for the Hatton's Grace, and we'll stick to the usual schedule with her too."

One due for a dramatic change of tack is Bob Olinger, who was a bit of a mixed bag over fences last season, for all that he was again successful at the Cheltenham Festival in March when Galopin Des Champs fell at the last with the Turners at his mercy.

The seven-year-old will now revert to hurdles, starting in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on November 13.

"He worked really nicely in a schooling hurdle on Tuesday," De Bromhead said. "We were very happy with him and Rachael was delighted.

"We still don't know why he was the way he was last season. He looks really well and everyone is happy with him, so maybe it was just that jumping fences took too much out of him."

The 2021 Gold Cup hero Minella Indo, second behind A Plus Tard in March, will this time take a different route back to Cheltenham. Tramore's Savills Chase, previously Al Boum Photo's domain each year on January 1, will be his initial target as he is saved for a spring campaign.

Envoi Allen, a Grade 1 winner over two miles last term but a horse whose breathing problems have impeded his progression, will step back up to three miles in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on November 5.

"Again, he seems good and is working well, but his wind is what it is," De Bromhead said. "We did a lot of investigating and we can't see any more that we can do for him. I think it's always going to be a concern now."