Alderbrook Lad puts "Ben Hur" episode behind him with Cartmel success

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023

Watch how Alderbrook Lad won the feature at Cartmel - and read Tom Peacock's report about the freak incident the horse was involved in

By Tom Peacock

Alderbrook Lad completed his journey from a terrifying gallop through Middleham and a pretty serious injury to take the main event of the day at Cartmel on Sunday.

Trainer Micky Hammond had to chase the 11-year-old through the town back in the spring, nursing him back to health before the favour was repaid in the Oakmere Homes Handicap Chase.

Hammond recalled the story to Racing UK. “The Wednesday of the Cheltenham Festival he got loose on Middleham gallops, he galloped all the way back down on the road track, down onto the road, into the village. He turned over when he hit the wall near Mrs (Lenore) Peacock’s, he was then under the bonnet of four-wheel drive that was stationary at the time.

“I’m driving along there, he had the saddle under his belly, his bridle was hanging round his tail, that’s what was startling the horse as much as anything. He galloped past the yard, which is on the Ripon side of Middleham, all the way down to a farm just past the the Cover Bridge (Inn).

“I was going down the road behind him - we were going 30mph - I was like Ben Hur to be perfectly honest - chasing after this horse.

“Because of what he did he galloped himself to a standstill - shoes were going left, right and centre. His near-hind - he actually ran his foot right down to the bone. Fortunately our vet Philip Jones was at Karl Burke’s at the time and was on the scene quite quickly.

“The horse was totally distressed and shocked after the event and it took us the best part of an hour to get him back on the box to get him back for his recuperation. Seven weeks later after a lot of TLC from the staff, we were back here, he finished a gallant second. He had to improve on that and he’s done it today.”