Alderbrook Passes Away

Alderbrook, who won the 1995 Champion Hurdle as a novice before embarking upon a successful stud career, died on Wednesday at the age of 18.

Part of trainer Kim Bailey's memorable Cheltenham Festival when he also won the Gold Cup with Master Oats, the son of Ardross landed four of his six starts over hurdles as well as finishing second in the Champion a year later.

Also a Group-winning Flat horse, he was standing at Anngrove Stud in Ireland but had many problems with his joints and died after an operation on an infection in his off-fore leg.

'It is always upsetting when you lose an old friend and the departing of Alderbrook, who might have only been a horse, but a very, very special one, was certainly sad,' said Bailey on his stable website.

'In all my years as a trainer Alderbrook was my most favourite, he was just different from any other horse that I have had the privilege to train.

'He was incredibly tough, totally honest and with his joints causing such huge problems, he was just that special he was able to push himself through the pain barrier to always do his best.

'Alderbrook had that aura of invincibility about him; he knew he was special and everything about him was different.'

One of the best products of Alderbrook's stud career is the high-class chaser Ollie Magern, who is due to run at Wetherby this weekend.

(C) PA Sport