Brooke lays Hexham ghost to rest

Henry Brooke left Hexham happy after riding his first winner since returning to action from serious injuries at the same track.

Brooke was back in the winner’s enclosure after a thrilling victory in the Follow At attheraces On Twitter Handicap Chase.

The 25-year-old was placed in an induced coma after suffering a heavy fall from Old Storm at the Northumberland venue on October 8 and was also kicked by another horse when he hit the ground.

Racing was delayed for almost two hours while he was treated by on-course medical staff before he could be airlifted to Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

Despite also suffering nine broken ribs and a punctured lung, Brooke made remarkably quick progress and having made his comeback in a bumper at Catterick a week ago, he came so close to a dream first winner back when Jimmy Moffatt’s Highland Lodge was beaten just a short-head defending his crown in Saturday’s Becher Chase over the National fences at Aintree.

However, it seemed appropriate it should be at Hexham that he returned to winning ways, as Moffatt-trained 9/1 shot Munsaab profited from Grange Hall’s final-fence blunder and got up on the line to score by a head.

Brooke said: “I’m delighted to be back riding …

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