Henry de Bromhead could hardly hide the emotion as he wrapped his arms around July Flower moments after her stirring Arkle Trial victory. Jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, still flushed from the effort and greeted by warm applause, looked every bit the rider of a mare on the rise.
The two-mile contest on 15th November, 2025 belonged to July Flower once she settled into her stride, eventually pulling a length and a half clear of Be Aware in a polished, confident display. For de Bromhead, it marked his second win in the race with a mare, echoing the early ascent of Put The Kettle On, whose later Festival exploits are now the stuff of Cheltenham folklore.
“She is very exciting,” he said afterwards, the mixture of pride and relief evident in his voice. “She was very good at Limerick the other day and we said we’d drop back in trip and see. She jumped great and I’m delighted for the Angoves and for Darragh.” He admitted they debated all summer whether to send her over fences. “Thankfully we did,” he added, smiling. When asked to compare her with Put The Kettle On, he chuckled: “They are so different — this one is the sweetest mare you’ll ever come across, while Put The Kettle On always wanted to eat you alive! But both have real ability.”
De Bromhead was equally glowing about O’Keeffe’s ride. “He has all the attributes Rachael had — hunger, want, natural ability. We’re very lucky to have him stepping into her shoes.”
The afternoon had earlier opened with a commanding, front-running display from One Horse Town in the Grade Two JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle. Paul O’Brien judged the tempo inch-perfect, keeping enough in reserve to hold off the late thrust of Precious Man by three and three-quarter lengths. Trainer Harry Derham called the performance “extremely satisfying,” adding that the juvenile will now head to Trials Day.
Local cheers grew louder in the next race when Hung Jury powered up the Cheltenham hill to win the Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase. The Luckley-trained runner stayed on relentlessly in the testing ground to finish three and three-quarter lengths clear. Trainer Martin Keighley said the conditions played perfectly to his strengths. “He stays forever. All that rain helped him. If he was in with a chance coming down the hill, I knew he’d be tough to get past.” He noted that the Welsh National on December 27 could be considered in the future.
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