'It was something different' - Brooke wins Jersey Champion Hurdle on first trip

Henry Brooke took advantage of the break in the British jumps season as he jetted off to Jersey to win Sunday's Champion Hurdle aboard the Karl Kukk-trained Ormskirk - his first ever ride in the Channel Islands.

A winner over 1m4f on the Flat at Jersey’s previous meeting last month, Ormskirk was more familiar with the tight bends of the unique Les Landes coastal track than the 2012 champion conditional, who was pleased to receive the call-up.

Speaking after landing back home in Newcastle, Brooke said: "Karl Kukk messaged me and asked me would I like to ride and I thought, 'Yeah definitely'. There was no racing on so I was thankful to him for inviting me over. It was something different to do and it was enjoyable."

Brooke has been keeping himself occupied away from the weighing room during the short 12-day lull in the jumps season, which ends on Saturday.

Although it is not quite the 24-day holiday Irish riders were able to enjoy in June, Brooke was grateful for the time off to spend with family and friends and said: "Obviously with no racing we’ve had loads of time but I’m keeping busy. I went to Sean Quinlan and Lizzy Butterworth's wedding on Friday and it was nice to watch them get married and be invited to the whole day.

"I’ve got a five-month-old baby as well so he’s keeping me and my partner Alice [White] plenty busy. It’s so nice to spend a bit of time with him as well. That’s really the priority this week."

A return to Jersey could be on the cards for the 30-year-old who has ridden six of his ten winners so far this season for the in-form Oliver Greenall.

He said: "We’re definitely going to go again. Ollie’s going to take Authorizo on September 27 and if he’s going to do that, then my brother Danny is planning on taking a couple of Flat horses. With a bit of luck, hopefully that can happen."

Luck is certainly something that is needed to even make it to the start when racing in Jersey as Charlie Longsdon and Neil Mullholland found out the hard way on Sunday.

Longsdon had former champion jockey Brian Hughes booked for Jamacho, who was due to oppose Brooke in the Champion Hurdle but was withdrawn after problems with the ferry crossing.

Brooke sympathised, saying: "I was speaking to Charlie yesterday and his team had driven their horses from Portsmouth to somewhere and they thought they were going to get on another dock, but they wouldn’t let them on there.

"Then they said they were going to let them back on the first place. They drove all the way back up there and they were just about to get on and they said, 'No you’re not going'. For a run like that it’s just a nightmare."

Brooke, who is next in action at Market Rasen on Saturday, is hoping for better fortunes than Longsdon for next month's trip.

He said of the welcome distraction: "There will be a good bit of planning to get them over there. Hopefully it happens so that’ll be a bit of fun. It’s easier said than done. Jersey is great fun but I wouldn’t miss racing in England to go over there."

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