'It's lovely to do this for her' - Lorna Brooke remembered on hunter chase night

Connections of Captain Cattistock toasted their success to the much-loved Lorna Brooke after winning a race named in her honour at Cheltenham on Friday night.

Sally Randell, partner of winning trainer Fergal O'Brien, knew Brooke – who died last month after a fall when riding at Taunton – well from her riding days.

The winner at O'Brien's local track was a joyous occasion for the Tuffnell family, with Albi riding the eight-year-old who is owned by his mother Jane.

"We've all had a lot of upset this year and Albi has done us proud," Randell said. "I rode with Lorna so it was a lovely race to win in memory of her. He's done a really good job and it's lovely to do this for Lorna, she won't be forgotten."

'She was so passionate' - amateur jockey Lorna Brooke dies after fall

Tuffnell added: "I didn't know Lorna Brooke that well but one of the main things that shone through from watching all the replays was the big grins and all those slaps on the neck after her races – she loved the horse and that's why jockeys go and risk their lives every day at courses like this. It's lovely Cheltenham dedicated this to her and it's a privilege to win it."

It was a special win for Captain Cattistock, who had to miss the Foxhunters' Chase at Aintree with an injury. He certainly made up for it here.

Randell added: "We missed Aintree as he got an overreach and that was my fault. I said to Albi, 'I promise I'll make it up to you' so maybe it was a blessing. Thank god for this, it's got me out of a hole. The owners are absolutely over the moon."

Remarkable double

Bradley Gibbs enjoyed an extraordinary double as a trainer and jockey, partly helped by a bizarre, yet remarkable, recovery from his 2-7 shot Highway Jewel in the 3m1½f mares' hunter chase.

Gibbs was fearing the worst when the seven-year-old made a huge mistake at the top of the hill. The mare jumped on to the top of the fence but somehow managed to land over the other side.

The drama was not over yet, as she was stalked and then behind the strong-travelling Fishy Story, but Highway Jewel got up in the final furlong for an unlikely win.

Following an earlier success aboard Captain McGinley, Gibbs joins Harry Skelton, Jack Kennedy and Rachael Blackmore as riders to have enjoyed doubles at Cheltenham in 2021.

"It's unbelievable," said Gibbs, who now trains at Lemsford in Hertfordshire. "That was my first two runners as a trainer at the track and I'm just blessed to have these two nice horses – I'm lucky I get to ride them as well."

Of the recovery, he added: "She just took off outside the wings, it's about a lack of experience over those park fences. She landed right on top of it and then luckily galloped her way off it. It all happened too quick to know what was happening, I was just delighted to stay on.

"I thought I might have thrown the race away for us but when the other horse came to me she really dug deep."

Read more:

'Our hearts are broken in the amateur ranks' - colleagues remember Lorna Brooke

Remember her joy but be reminded of the dangers as we mourn Lorna Brooke

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