Inches away from paralysis to winning the Eider - Henry Brooke's fairytale win

That's why they do it. Just three months after suffering a serious neck injury that came within inches of paralysing him, Henry Brooke was celebrating victory in the Vertem Eider Chase.

The emotional jockey was "a bit lost for words" after capping his quicker-than-expected recovery from breaking three vertebrae in a schooling fall by scoring on Sam's Adventure.

Owners Phil and Julie Martin and trainer Brian Ellison had stayed loyal to the jockey, who reckoned his gym work and rehab at Jack Berry House left him stronger than ever as he returned just 11 days ago.

And their faith was rewarded as he got the 15-2 shot to the front four fences from home in the 4m1f marathon and conjured extra when his mount was headed briefly by Crossley Tender on the run-in for victory by three-quarters of a length.

Vertem Eider Chase result, analysis and replay

"Days like this are why I'm a jockey," he said afterwards. "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."

"It's really good to have the support of everybody. I've been riding out at Brian's plenty when I've been at Jack Berry House and it's all worthwhile. I'm delighted."

Brooke, riding the fifth winner of his comeback, actually felt he had hit the front too soon on a horse he won a £40,000 novice handicap chase on at Uttoxeter last season.

"I know this horse pulls up in front," he said. "But coming down to the last he went and popped it – 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 was glad to have Brooke back on board and said: "Brian Hughes has done nothing wrong and has won a couple of times on this horse but Phil felt that Henry rode him most of last year and he'd have kept the ride this year if it hadn't been for his injury."

Aintree could beckon in 2022 for Sam's Adventure, who gave Newcastle-born Ellison his first win in his home city's biggest chase.

"Phil wanted to put him in the Grand National this year but Julie wouldn't let him," the trainer said. "We probably will next year, I think that's the way he'll be going.

"He's in the Midlands National but that might be too much, I don't know. We might give him a good holiday then bring him out later in the year."

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