Returning Henry Brooke elated after Eider triumph for Brian Ellison

Now the soon-to-be-father has gone one better after winning Newcastle’s four mile-plus Vertem Eider Chase on Sam’s Adventure just 11 days after returning to the saddle following a gallops fall that left him suffering serious neck injuries.

The elation was clear to see. “Days like this are why I’m a jockey,” explained the emotional Middleham rider. “You always want to win on the big days, though the little days mean as much after you’ve come back from an injury.

“I’m a bit lost for words but this is brilliant – I’m just very happy.”

There were many who thought Brooke would not ride again after a fall on the gallops at Oliver Greenall’s stables in Cheshire last November left the 30-year-old with neck injuries and a brush with paralysis.

Again, he is indebted to the rehab staff at Jack Berry House, the Injured Jockeys Fund centre, who are masters at putting broken jockeys back together after such falls. As such, this triumph is as much for them as it is for Brooke, Phil and Julie Martin, who own Sam’s Adventure, and Malton trainer Brian Ellison, who prepared the horse to perfection.

This was a particularly popular success – Ellison was born in Newcastle and has previously made no secret of his desire to win the Eider, the track’s feature chase of the year, and the Northumberland Plate, one of the top Flat handicaps.

Yet, while the Plate still remains elusive, the Randox Grand National dream remains alive. The same connections are due to be represented by the veteran Definitly Red in next month’s renewal while Sam’s Adventure, a progressive horse, will be targeted at the 2022 renewal.

The success of Sam’s Adventure also owed much to Ellison and the Martins staying loyal to their jockey, who had enjoyed previous success on the horse, rather than champion jockey Brian Hughes, who was in the saddle for the high-profile Tommy Whittle Chase win at Haydock last December.

In front heading to the last, Sam’s Adventure and Brooke got in tight to the bottom of the obstacle and appeared to hand the initiative to Crossley Tender, who was the quicker away from the fence.

But Sam’s Adventure battled back under Brooke to prevail in a thrilling finish. “I know this horse pulls up in front,” said the jockey, who was recording the fifth win of his second unlikely comeback.

“I had faith he’d pick up and he did. He’s a talented horse and Brian has done really well with him through his career – there aren’t many horses that win three bumpers and go on to be a lovely staying handicap chaser – and there’s plenty left in him.”

Ellison, too, thought the horse had blown his chance at the last. “I thought we’d lost it at the last, I must admit,” said the trainer. “Henry actually said it probably helped him as he didn’t want to be in front that long, but he had no option to go when he did.

“He’s been such a good horse for us. That’s his second decent pot this year, he won a decent prize at Uttoxeter last season and also won a valuable bumper at Newbury.

“He didn’t jump hurdles great, but he’s far better over fences, he’s quite clever.

“He won’t run in the Midlands National. He’s on holiday now, he’s done enough this season. The target next year might be the Grand National – if Julie (Martin, joint-owner with her husband, Phil) let’s me!

“He’ll have a nice long break, we’ll start him off about Christmas with the aim of the National, because he’s so laid back it will take him a race to get back into it.”

Ellison came very close to winning the Northumberland Plate in 2016 with Seamour, who shot clear but was caught close home by Antiquarium and admitted to having a flashback.

“I could see the other horse still going well, but when we jumped the second-last I thought we’d won. Of course, he then blew the last and I thought ‘not again’. It’s great for Phil and Julie, though, because one of their other horses, Forest Bihan, was supposed to run today but got injured this morning and that might be it for him, he might not run again.”

Definitly Red is due to be entered today for this weekend’s Premier Chase at Kelso – his final prep race before one last tilt at the National.

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