Wetherby date can’t come quickly enough for Brooke

His high-profile treble at the Bank Holiday Monday meeting was eclipsed by the victory of Stags Leap in yesterday’s opener – the horse is trained at Middleham by the rider’s mother Julia and this was her first victory since taking out a training licence.

Brooke then completed a double on the day, his fifth win in three days, courtesy of Van Mildert. It took the former champion conditional jockey’s tally of winners to nine for the season – just 11 short of his total in the whole of the 2014-15 season as he attempted to get his career back on track following a parting of the ways with top trainer Donald McCain.

Yet, with McCain’s stable jockey Jason Maguire and Wilson Renwick on the injury sidelines, this likeable rider – who is, once again, beginning to blossom in the saddle – is reunited with his former boss for the eye-catching ride on Black Jack Rover in the Life & Style Novices’ Hurdle – one of the main contests on The Yorkshire Post’s annual ladies night at the West Yorkshire track.

Ballykan, for father and son team of Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies, is the one to beat.

Tadcaster-born Brooke will also be hoping that recent Kelso winner My Friend George, trained by Kenneth Slack, can go close in a competitive renewal of The Yorkshire Post Magazine Handicap Chase in which Guiseley jockey Jonathan England’s mount Flash Tommie is likely to be favourite.

There will also be a bicycle theme at the meeting – Wetherby is hosting a cycling fundraiser throughout the day in aid of Jack Berry House, the new Injured Jockeys Fund rehabilitation centre in Malton due to be opened next week.