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'I couldn't do it without her' - Brooke hails mum after Grey Atlantic Way win

Grey Atlantic Way with a fine leap under Henry Brooke in the 3m3f handicap chase
Grey Atlantic Way with a fine leap under Henry Brooke in the 3m3f handicap chaseCredit: John Grossicck (racingpost.com/photos)

Mother knows best is a saying Danny Brooke won't argue with and the fledgling trainer was quick to praise mum Julia after Grey Atlantic Way did the business in the 3m3f handicap chase.

Brooke's older brother Henry did the steering on the 11-2 shot, the trainer's seventh winner since taking over the licence from his mother at their Middleham base in North Yorkshire just over a year ago.

"I'm enjoying it," said Brooke. "We grew up with it. For a woman coming into the sport late in life, Mum has done great and she's taught me the highs and lows. I've seen them first hand, which has kept me grounded, so I didn't have massive expectations. Mum's a massive mentor.

"If you asked any trainer they say things could be a bit better and a few more could have won – and yeah I'd have loved that – but I've a fantastic small team of horses. They might not be world-beaters, but they'll be competitive at their level and I've the best bunch of owners you could want, which is the main thing."

The 23-year-old Brooke has "no preference" in regard to training jumpers or Flat horses and added: "It doesn't bother me what they are as long as they can be competitive.

"I've wanted to train for a long time, probably when I got too heavy to be a jockey, but Mum's still a huge part of things – she's with me every morning. The licence might have switched around, but you wouldn't be able to tell that seeing us day to day and I couldn't do half of what I do without her."

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Lambourn correspondent

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