Racing reflects the rest of the world with sporting highs and losses to mourn

Counting our blessings
When Henry Brooke and Highland Lodge were pipped at the post in the Becher Chase in December the headlines revolved around Henry’s Heartbreak, in reference to the injustice of such a narrow defeat just days after his valiant return from injuries sustained in a fall at Hexham two months earlier.

Given that the 25-year-old had been placed in an induced coma with broken ribs, a punctured lung and internal bleeding, such sympathy might be thought to have been well placed, in the same way racing fans applauded the comebacks of other victims Connor Beasley, Bryan Cooper and Brian Toomey, among others.

When judged alongside Freddy Tylicki, however, the recovered jockeys will surely count themselves lucky in the extreme to be still riding with hope in their hearts for an active and prosperous future.