Alderbrook
Encyclopedia
Alderbrook was an entire
horse who won the Champion Hurdle
in 1995 and was runner up in 1996. He was the top rated Hurdler by Timeform
in both 1995 and 1996 in their publication, Chasers & Hurdlers.
Alderbrook's sire
was Ardross
, a well known staying horse from the late 1970s and his dam was Twine. Alderbrook was the highest rated horse on the flat out of Twine.
Alderbrook was foaled on 27 April 1989, the third foal from his dam.
.
He won one more race for Sally Hall before he was sent Novice Hurdling (he finished unplaced in a Novice Hurdle at Newcastle
).
). Success was immediate with Alderbrook winning his next 4 handicaps in a row, with his handicap mark rising to 93 in the process.
Alderbrook showed a particular liking for soft ground, something which remained true throughout his career.
Subsequent to this Alderbrook's sights were raised to Listed, Group 3 and even Group 2 level on the flat, with Alderbrook winning the Group 2 Prix Dollar
at Longchamp
in October 1994 upon his favoured soft ground.
In all, Alderbrook had won 11 races on the flat all around the distance of ten furlong
s.
.
Although Alderbrook's first attempt at jump racing had ended in failure a couple of years earlier, Kim Bailey had high hopes for his charge. Kim entered the now six year old in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle
at Wincanton
. On the morning of the race Alderbrook's odds for the Champion Hurdle were slashed from 50/1 into as short as 20/1 before he had even raced at Wincanton.
Racing at such a high level is rare for a Novice
. Generally they would compete against other Novices, but Alderbrook was racing against experienced horses in a race only one grade below Championship level.
The race itself bore out the confidence of Bailey. In the hands of stable jockey Norman Williamson, Alderbrook travelled easily in the race and won by 8 lengths in a facile manner. Such was the manner of his success that David Gandolfo, the trainer of the runner-up Trying Again, stated he would not re-oppose Alderbrook at the Cheltenham Festival
as he could not foresee his horse reversing the form against a horse likely to improve for the run.
Onto Cheltenham
. Alderbrook started the Champion Hurdle 3rd favourite at 11/2 behind the consistent Large Action and Irish punter favourite, Danoli. Also opposing were two talented but injury prone horses, Fortune and Fame and dual Cheltenham Festival
winner Montelado, as well as the game front-running Triumph Hurdle
winning mare Mysilv.
Norman Williamson rode a copybook waiting race, holding Alderbrook up at the back of the field and gradually working his way into contention 2 flights out. As they came around the turn Alderbrook was still hard on the bridle which prompted commentator Graham Goode to state with surprise that "Alderbrook the Novice is absolutely cruising". Alderbrook jumped the last just behind Danoli and Large Action but quickened clear up the hill to win comfortably by 5 lengths.
Given the ease of his win, the high quality of his opponents and the likelihood of further improvement due to his comparative inexperience with hurdling Alderbrook was installed as a short price favourite to follow up in 1996.
He started off with a 7th placed finish in the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt
at Longchamp but then improved on this considerably with arguably his best flat performance in finishing second in the Group 1 Prix Ganay
, again at Longchamp.
Alderbrook's final race on the flat was a 2nd place finish in the Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft (Group 2) at Baden Baden in Germany. This form was boosted when the winner of the race, Freedom Cry, finished the season with 2nd in one of Europe's top middle-distance races, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
(Group 1), only beaten by the unbeaten Epsom Derby
winner - Lammtarra
.
During his time on the flat, Alderbrook was transferred to Julie Cecil. Bailey was not entirely pleased with the transfer, but continued to train Alderbrook over hurdles.
On the flat Alderbrook was ridden on 20 occasions by Paul Eddery (brother of the better known Champion Jockey, Pat Eddery
). Other jockeys to have ridden him on the flat were Tony Clark, George Duffield, Nicky Carlisle and John Carroll.
.
He returned to hurdles in February 1996 in a Class B Hurdle at Kempton
. Starting at a shade of odds on (10/11) Alderbrook won comfortably despite it being his first race in more than eight months.
And again we arrive at Cheltenham. Alderbrook was the clear favourite at 10/11 and strongly expected to retain his title against a field thought to be inferior to that of 1995.
The weather in the days leading up to the race was very wet and the race took place on ground officially good to soft, but considered softer.
Graham Bradley had been given an alternative ride in the race by Jim Old, on Collier Bay. Bradley kept Collier Bay up with a comparatively slow pace and started to race for home 2 flights from the finish. Alderbrook was instead held up at the back of the field and started to try to make up ground approaching 2 flights out.
Alderbrook kept on after Collier Bay for the remainder of the race, but could get no nearer than the 2½ lengths he was beaten at the line.
Some commentators thought Dunwoody had given Alderbrook too much ground to make up on soft ground, but Dunwoody was adamant that he ridden a good race.
(a Grade 2 Handicap Hurdle at Ayr
). Alderbrook won as easily as he had done in his previous victories and the win afforded him the top rated hurdling performance by Timeform.
During 1996 it was announced that Alderbrook could no longer be kept sound for racing and was retired. The retirement was discussed on Channel 4's The Morning Line
. Jim McGrath was asked how good he thought Alderbrook had been. He replied that the most important point was his high quality despite having serious injury problems. McGrath said he'd visited the stable a month or so before the 1996 Champion Hurdle and that the horse was 'crippled dead' and yet still went on to finish second.
It was announced in 1999 that Alderbrook would be transferred to Anngrove Stud in Co Laois, Ireland from 2000.
and dual winner of the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase
), Baron Windrush (winner of the Grade 3 Classic Chase
) and Sh Boom (winner of the Grade 2 Stayers Hurdle at Haydock).
Entire (animal)
In animal fancy and animal husbandry, entire indicates an animal has not been desexed, i.e., spayed or neutered ....
horse who won the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
in 1995 and was runner up in 1996. He was the top rated Hurdler by Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
in both 1995 and 1996 in their publication, Chasers & Hurdlers.
Alderbrook's sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
was Ardross
Ardross (horse)
Ardross was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was a co-holder of the record for consecutive wins in European racing. Ardross was bred by trainer Paddy Prendergast for his American owner Elisabeth Ireland Poe who was also the breeder of Meadow Court. His sire was Run the Gantlet, a son of U.S. Racing...
, a well known staying horse from the late 1970s and his dam was Twine. Alderbrook was the highest rated horse on the flat out of Twine.
Alderbrook was foaled on 27 April 1989, the third foal from his dam.
Early days
Sally Hall was to be Alderbrook's first trainer. His racing career did not start until he was three years old. It took him until his 5th start to register a win, and he did this off a lowly handicap mark of 58 in a Class 6 handicap at GoodwoodGoodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
.
He won one more race for Sally Hall before he was sent Novice Hurdling (he finished unplaced in a Novice Hurdle at Newcastle
Newcastle Racecourse
Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. It stages both flat and National Hunt racing, with its biggest meeting being the Northumberland Plate held annually in June.-History:...
).
Kim Bailey
During the Winter Alderbrook was sold to his current owner, Ernie Pick. Ernie sent him to Kim Bailey who had achieved success in the National Hunt game with such horses as Mr Frisk (winner of the 1990 Grand NationalGrand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
). Success was immediate with Alderbrook winning his next 4 handicaps in a row, with his handicap mark rising to 93 in the process.
Alderbrook showed a particular liking for soft ground, something which remained true throughout his career.
Progress on the flat
Following another winter's break, Alderbrook returned aged 5 with another win in a Conditions race in 1994.Subsequent to this Alderbrook's sights were raised to Listed, Group 3 and even Group 2 level on the flat, with Alderbrook winning the Group 2 Prix Dollar
Prix Dollar
The Prix Dollar is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,950 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The event was introduced in 1905, and it...
at Longchamp
Hippodrome de Longchamp
The Longchamp Racecourse is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes in the Bois de Boulogne at Paris, France. Built on the banks of the Seine River, it is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced tracks and a famous hill that provides a real...
in October 1994 upon his favoured soft ground.
In all, Alderbrook had won 11 races on the flat all around the distance of ten furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s.
Champion!
Following this successful season on the flat, Alderbrook's sights transferred to the jumps scene. It is rare for an entire horse to be sent over jumps, but Alderbrook's progress on the flat, together with his breeding ensured Ernie Pick would not send Alderbrook for geldingGelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
.
Although Alderbrook's first attempt at jump racing had ended in failure a couple of years earlier, Kim Bailey had high hopes for his charge. Kim entered the now six year old in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle
Kingwell Hurdle
The Kingwell Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Wincanton over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in...
at Wincanton
Wincanton Racecourse
Wincanton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wincanton, Somerset, England.The steeplechase fences are large, making it a good test of a chaser...
. On the morning of the race Alderbrook's odds for the Champion Hurdle were slashed from 50/1 into as short as 20/1 before he had even raced at Wincanton.
Racing at such a high level is rare for a Novice
Novice (racehorse)
A novice in National Hunt horse racing is a horse which has not won in a particular type of race prior to the start of the current season. A novice hurdler has not won a hurdle race before the start of the current season, while a novice chaser has not won a steeplechase before the start of the...
. Generally they would compete against other Novices, but Alderbrook was racing against experienced horses in a race only one grade below Championship level.
The race itself bore out the confidence of Bailey. In the hands of stable jockey Norman Williamson, Alderbrook travelled easily in the race and won by 8 lengths in a facile manner. Such was the manner of his success that David Gandolfo, the trainer of the runner-up Trying Again, stated he would not re-oppose Alderbrook at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
as he could not foresee his horse reversing the form against a horse likely to improve for the run.
Onto Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
. Alderbrook started the Champion Hurdle 3rd favourite at 11/2 behind the consistent Large Action and Irish punter favourite, Danoli. Also opposing were two talented but injury prone horses, Fortune and Fame and dual Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
winner Montelado, as well as the game front-running Triumph Hurdle
Triumph Hurdle
The Triumph Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
winning mare Mysilv.
Norman Williamson rode a copybook waiting race, holding Alderbrook up at the back of the field and gradually working his way into contention 2 flights out. As they came around the turn Alderbrook was still hard on the bridle which prompted commentator Graham Goode to state with surprise that "Alderbrook the Novice is absolutely cruising". Alderbrook jumped the last just behind Danoli and Large Action but quickened clear up the hill to win comfortably by 5 lengths.
Given the ease of his win, the high quality of his opponents and the likelihood of further improvement due to his comparative inexperience with hurdling Alderbrook was installed as a short price favourite to follow up in 1996.
Back to the Flat
Just over two weeks after winning the Champion Hurdle, Alderbrook was back in action on the flat. Due to his requirement for soft ground and potential easier opposition, Alderbrook was sent overseas for his three flat races in 1995.He started off with a 7th placed finish in the Group 2 Prix d'Harcourt
Prix d'Harcourt
The Prix d'Harcourt is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.-History:...
at Longchamp but then improved on this considerably with arguably his best flat performance in finishing second in the Group 1 Prix Ganay
Prix Ganay
The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May....
, again at Longchamp.
Alderbrook's final race on the flat was a 2nd place finish in the Grosser Preis der Wirtschaft (Group 2) at Baden Baden in Germany. This form was boosted when the winner of the race, Freedom Cry, finished the season with 2nd in one of Europe's top middle-distance races, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
(Group 1), only beaten by the unbeaten Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner - Lammtarra
Lammtarra
Lammtarra was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse who won three Group One races in 1995 and was voted the Cartier Three-Year-Old European Champion Colt...
.
During his time on the flat, Alderbrook was transferred to Julie Cecil. Bailey was not entirely pleased with the transfer, but continued to train Alderbrook over hurdles.
On the flat Alderbrook was ridden on 20 occasions by Paul Eddery (brother of the better known Champion Jockey, Pat Eddery
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
). Other jockeys to have ridden him on the flat were Tony Clark, George Duffield, Nicky Carlisle and John Carroll.
Graham Bradley
During the previous jumps season Kim Bailey had split with his stable jockey Norman Williamson. Alderbrook therefore needed a new jockey. Graham Bradley was chosen to be the replacement. Unfortunately Bradley was late for a schooling session one morning (due to an alarm clock not going off) and Bailey decided to replace him before a competitive ride. The ride therefore went to the then Champion Jockey, Richard DunwoodyRichard Dunwoody
Thomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...
.
The Champion Returns
Alderbrook had continued to suffer leg and feet problems and was proving difficult for Bailey to keep sound.He returned to hurdles in February 1996 in a Class B Hurdle at Kempton
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
. Starting at a shade of odds on (10/11) Alderbrook won comfortably despite it being his first race in more than eight months.
And again we arrive at Cheltenham. Alderbrook was the clear favourite at 10/11 and strongly expected to retain his title against a field thought to be inferior to that of 1995.
The weather in the days leading up to the race was very wet and the race took place on ground officially good to soft, but considered softer.
Graham Bradley had been given an alternative ride in the race by Jim Old, on Collier Bay. Bradley kept Collier Bay up with a comparatively slow pace and started to race for home 2 flights from the finish. Alderbrook was instead held up at the back of the field and started to try to make up ground approaching 2 flights out.
Alderbrook kept on after Collier Bay for the remainder of the race, but could get no nearer than the 2½ lengths he was beaten at the line.
Some commentators thought Dunwoody had given Alderbrook too much ground to make up on soft ground, but Dunwoody was adamant that he ridden a good race.
Last race
Dunwoody kept the ride in what transpired to be Alderbrook's last ever race. Conceding 9 lbs and upwards to the entire field, Alderbrook started as the 8/11 favourite in the Scottish Champion HurdleScottish Champion Hurdle
The Scottish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Scotland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ayr, South Ayrshire, over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
(a Grade 2 Handicap Hurdle at Ayr
Ayr Racecourse
Ayr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened on 1907. The track is a left-handed, oval track, thirteen furlongs in circumference, with a straight run-in of half a mile. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing...
). Alderbrook won as easily as he had done in his previous victories and the win afforded him the top rated hurdling performance by Timeform.
During 1996 it was announced that Alderbrook could no longer be kept sound for racing and was retired. The retirement was discussed on Channel 4's The Morning Line
The Morning Line
The Morning Line is a Saturday morning look at the day's live horse racing on Channel 4.It provides tips and advice for the forthcoming day's racing....
. Jim McGrath was asked how good he thought Alderbrook had been. He replied that the most important point was his high quality despite having serious injury problems. McGrath said he'd visited the stable a month or so before the 1996 Champion Hurdle and that the horse was 'crippled dead' and yet still went on to finish second.
Post-racing career
Alderbrook was sent to stud at Cobhall Court Stud in Hereford. It was queried as to whether Alderbrook would be viewed as a commercial sire due to the jumps career he was now more famous for. However, due to his sire's success as a dual-purpose (siring horses good on both the flat and over jumps) sire Alderbrook had some success.It was announced in 1999 that Alderbrook would be transferred to Anngrove Stud in Co Laois, Ireland from 2000.
Offspring
The quality of mares sent to Alderbrook has been varied and not generally of high quality, but Alderbrook has sired some jumps horses of note. These include Ollie Magern (winner of the Grade 1 Feltham Novices' ChaseFeltham Novices' Chase
The Feltham Novices' Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 3 miles , and during its running there are eighteen fences to be jumped...
and dual winner of the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase
Charlie Hall Chase
The Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in England which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Wetherby over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong , and during its running there are 18 fences to be jumped...
), Baron Windrush (winner of the Grade 3 Classic Chase
Classic Chase
The Classic Chase is a Grade 3 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Warwick over a distance of about 3 miles and 5 furlongs , and during its running there are twenty-two fences to be jumped...
) and Sh Boom (winner of the Grade 2 Stayers Hurdle at Haydock).