Alderbrook (horse)

Alderbrook
Sire	Ardross
Grandsire	Run the Gantlet
Dam	Twine
Damsire	Thatching
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	27 April 1989
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Bay
Breeder	J H Stone
Owner	Ernie Pick
Trainer	Sally Hall Julie Cecil Kim Bailey
Record	30: 15-6-1
Earnings	£350,114
Major wins
Festival Stakes (1994) Select Stakes (1994) Prix Dollar (1994) Kingwell Hurdle (1995) Champion Hurdle (1995) Scottish Champion Hurdle (1996)

Alderbrook (27 April 1989 – 31 October 2007) 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, foaled on 27 April 1989, was the third foal from his dam.

Sally Hall was 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 Goodwood. He won one more race for Sally Hall before he was sent Novice Hurdling (he finished unplaced in a Novice Hurdle at Newcastle).

During the winter, Alderbrook was sold to Ernie Pick. Pick 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 National). Success was immediate, with Alderbrook winning his next 4 handicaps in a row, his handicap mark rising to 93 in the process. Alderbrook showed a particular liking for soft ground, something which remained true throughout his career.

Following another winter's break, Alderbrook returned aged 5 with another win in a Conditions race in 1994. Subsequent to this, his sights were raised to Listed, Group 3 and 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 furlongs.

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 his progress on the flat, together with his breeding ensured Ernie Pick would not send Alderbrook for gelding.

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. Bailey 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.

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