A brief review of the 2025/26 jumps season

Champion jockey: Sean Bowen

Champion trainer: Dan Skelton

Winning owner: J P McManus

Champion conditional jockey: Tristan Durrell

Willie Mullins had pipped Dan Skelton to the past two British trainers' championships but there was no treble for the Irish maestro as Skelton adjusted his strategy accordingly and in the process broke through the £5m prize money barrier.

Some commentators suggested that this year's end-of season bash at Sandown lacked pizazz but try telling that to Team Skelton who turned up en masse to celebrate the trainer's first title and a final prize money total of £5,044,586.

In the jockeys' championship Sean Bowen, with 241 winners a distance clear of nearest pursuer Harry Skelton, indicated Sir Anthony Peter McCoy's record of 289 winners in a season was in his sights.

When I Am Maximus beat Iroko in the Grand National, J P McManus became the first owner to have the first and second in the race; several respected judges thought Ben Jones threw away his winning chance on eventual third Jordans when he kicked for home and went clear before two out.

The King George at Kempton on Boxing Day delivered a 'race for the ages' with Ben Jones aboard Harry Redknapp owned The Jukebox Man beating Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior a nose and a nose, and Jango Baie half a length adrift in fourth.

11 weeks later Gaelic Warrior beat Jango Baie eight lengths in the Cheltenham Gold Cup with The Jukebox Man well behind in eighth, Ben Jones reporting his mount had made a respiratory noise.

40 minutes after the Gold Cup Mr Henry Crow and Barton Snow won the Princes Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase and four weeks later the pair added the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase to their haul.  

This year connections decided to let Lossiemouth take her chance in the Champion Hurdle; the grey mare won with the minimum of fuss. Another Willie Mullins trained grey, Il Etait Temps, won the Champion Chase, with stablemate and market leader Majborough's jumping failing to cut the mustard.

Home By The Lee had run in every renewal of the Stayers' Hurdle since 2022 and, at the fifth time of asking and at the grand old age of 11, Joseph O'Brien's veteran obliged. Four weeks later he went to Aintree and won the Liverpool Hurdle.

66/1 shot Martator won the Grand Annual, giving trainer Venetia Williams something to remember in a season she'll want to forget.

Attendance figures at this year's Festival showed a marked improvement on last year but trouble at the starts, which had plagued last year's meeting, showed no signs of improvement whatsoever. 

Irish amateur Declan Queally alleged Nico De Boinville had made racist comments towards him before the start of the Turners, allegations De Boinville vehemently denied. The pair appeared on ITV Racing the next day, sheepishly shaking hands in front of the weighing room, telling viewers it was all sorted. We were not convinced.  

Sent off the 5/2 favourite for the Turners following a comfortable win in the Challow, No Drama This End suffered plenty of drama of his own down at the start where it quickly transpired he had lost whatever chance he might have held. He was pulled up before the last, trainer Paul Nicholls telling the stewards that, 'having been squeezed out at the start, the gelding was further back than intended and continued to meet trouble in running thereafter.'

In the autumn Alexei and Wilful finished second and third respectively behind Celtic Dino in the Welsh Champion Hurdle. Five weeks later Alexei won the Greatwood six lengths and talk of a Champion Hurdle entry started to take hold. His third behind Wilful off top weight at Ascot just before Christmas did little to dampen the chatter. Joe Tizzard's charge won the Kingwell at Wincanton before finishing a respectable fourth in the Champion.

Ascot second Hot Fuss beat Wilful at Windsor in January but Wilful came out to win the County Hurdle, beating Persian War winner Sticktotheplan with something to spare.  

Some observers were surprised to see Harry Skelton prefer the nine-year-old Panic Attack to stablemate Hoe Joly Smoke in the Paddy Power Gold Cup but Harry had made the correct call - the mare scooted up the hill four lengths clear of nearest pursuer Vincenzo. 

Two weeks later the mare won the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, Tristan Durrell claiming three, while Harry rode The New Lion in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle. In a race with uncanny similarities to the 2025 Champion Hurdle, Constitution Hill fell and the mare Golden Ace collected the spoils; The New Lion came to grief two out when a length up but under pressure. 

That fall proved the final straw for connections of Constitution Hill; the gelding has the 2022 Supreme Hurdle and the 2023 Champion Hurdle on his curriculum vitae but he's now forging a new career on the Flat.    

Haiti Couleurs disappointed badly on his first try in graded company behind Grey Dawning in the Betfair Chase at Haydock but next time, in the Welsh Grand National, Sean Bowen sent Rebecca Curtis' charge to the front with a circuit to go and the pair never saw another rival. In the Gold Cup the gelding hit the fourth last, weakened quickly, and was pulled up. 

Twig pipped Mr Vango in the Becher while 33/1 chance Glengouly led his better fancied rivals a merry dance in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham, giving new trainer Faye Bramley her biggest win to date.

Bought out of James Ewart's yard over the summer for just £11,000, Thistle Ask won a Kelso handicap chase on his first start for Dan Skelton off 115; less than three months later, rated 158, he was beaten three lengths by Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot. His remarkable journey ended in the most poignant fashion when he was fatally injured falling at the seventh in the Celebration Chase at Sandown.

Tutti Quanti made a mockery of his mark in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury, making most to beat Wellington Arch 15 lengths. Supplemented for the Champion Hurdle at a cost £18,000, the gelding was reluctant to line up and trailed in 20 lengths behind Lossiemouth. Next time, in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, he was one length to the good but under pressure when falling at the penultimate flight.

Anglers Crag won the Eider Chase for a second time, unexposed six-year-old Kap Vert the Scottish Grand National and Havaila the bet365 Gold Cup.

Harry Cobden had his last ride as stable jockey for Paul Nicholls in the Select Hurdle at Sandown, Rubaud finishing last of the four runners. Having teamed up with Nicholls in 2018, Cobden was crowned champion jockey in 2023/24 with 164 winners. He leaves Nicholls to become the retained rider for J P McManus; Sam Twiston-Davies returns for a second spell at Ditcheat.

The beginning of April marked 20 years since the first blog post; in apposite fashion the suggested selection to mark the milestone, Triple Trade in the Middle Distance Veterans' Final at Haydock, pecked on landing at the first and unseated Brendan Powell.

And finally...

On Thursday December 18th 2025 Blowers - named after retired cricket commentator Henry Blofeld - became the longest price winner in British racing history, winning the pricedup.bet Maiden Hurdle at Exeter at odds of 300/1, despite jumping left throughout. After the race winning jockey James Best said:

"Ella Herbison was meant to ride Blowers. I was on my way to riding out on the M5 at ten past six and a random unknown Irish number rang me. Sometimes I don't answer and I didn't know who it was. It was Ella. 'Do you want to ride one in the first at Exeter?' Sadly she got stuck in traffic and didn't make her flight. Thank you to Ella for thinking of me and for Nigel and the owners to allow me to ride." 

On Thursday April 2nd 2026 the mare Crokes Cross won the Every Race Live On Racing TV Novices' Hurdle at Kelso, also at odds of 300/1, beating her better fancied stablemate Changemyluck (5/2) one and a quarter lengths. After the race winning trainer Stuart Coltherd said:

"It's unbelievable. Crokes Cross has just kept on improving. I think it's the nice sunny weather, she's been getting out in the field and in the last fortnight she's really started to thrive." 

Unfortunately I had no financial interest in either runner. 

A brief review of the 2024/25 jumps season

Champion jockey: Sean Bowen

Champion trainer: Willie Mullins

Winning owner: J P McManus

Champion conditional jockey: Freddie Gingell

Dan Skelton went into Aintree's Grand National meeting at the beginning of April with a commanding lead in the jumps trainers' championship - some £790,000 ahead of Paul Nicholls, £854,000 ahead of Nicky Henderson and over £1.3m clear of Willie Mullins in fourth place.

On the first day of the meeting Mr Mullins sent out the winners of the first four races on the card - all Grade 1 events: Impaire Et Passe (9/4), Manifesto Novices' Chase; Murcia (11/4), Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle; Gaelic Warrior (11/4), Aintree Bowl; and Lossiemouth (5/4f), Aintree Hurdle.

Incredibly, on Saturday he then sent out the first three home in the Grand National - Nick Rockett (33/1), I Am Maximus (7/1), and Grangeclare West (33/1) - and, for good measure, claimed fifth with Meetingofthewaters (20/1) and seventh with Minella Cocooner (18/1).

Skelton, pipped by Mullins for the title last year, must have been consumed by a sense of déjà vu. Somehow there just seemed an air of inevitability about it all. 

A week later Captain Cody (9/1) and Klarc Kent (14/1) filled the first two places in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and by the time Sandown's final fixture came around, Mullins was priced up a 1/12 chance to collect his second British trainers' championship.

Gaelic Warrior (5/6f), Il Etait Temps (9/2) and Jump Allen (5/1) obliged for the Irish maestro but the Olly Murphy trained Resplendent Grey - champion jockey Sean Bowen up - struck a note of defiance for the home team, denying Lombron and Rachael Blackmore in the feature bet365 Gold Cup.

The final totals showed that Willie Mullins had won just shy of £200,000 more than Dan Skelton over the course of the season.

Once again Willie Mullins was crowned leading trainer at the Cheltenham Festival with ten winners.

Four of those winners came on the final day, including 100/1 shot Poniros in the Triumph Hurdle, but in the Gold Cup 8/13f Galopin Des Champs wasn't as slick at the fences as we've seen in the past and he was comprehensively beaten by Inothewayurthinkin, vindicating the decision of winning connections to supplement at a cost of £25,000.

The Champion Hurdle on Tuesday proved one of the most dramatic in recent memory with 1/2f Constitution Hill falling four from home. State Man (8/1), five lengths clear approaching the last and with the race at his mercy, clipped the top of the flight and came to grief, allowing the mare Golden Ace to claim the spoils and her trainer Jeremy Scott the adulation of the massed ranks of mellifluous supporters who had installed themselves on the terracing behind the winner's enclosure.

On Wednesday a bad mistake by Jonbon in the Champion Chase effectively put paid to his chance; in the circumstances he did well to finish second but Marine Nationale's deserved victory was an emotional affair. 

The horse had won the 2023 renewal of the Supreme with Michael O'Sullivan in the plate; on 6th February 2025 Michael was severely injured when falling from Wee Charlie at the final fence in a handicap chase at Thurles and he died from the injuries sustained ten days later.

On Thursday Fact To File produced an eye-catching performance in the Ryanair while Bob Olinger denied favourite Teahupoo in the Stayers' Hurdle.

The first three days of this year's Festival were plagued by false starts and attendances over the four days were down by more than 10,000 compared to 2024 - plenty to ponder on for Cheltenham's new chief executive Guy Lavender.

Back in the autumn Minella Drama won the Old Roan, The Real Whacker the Charlie Hall, and King Turgeon the Grand Sefton, the last-named on the same day the 2022 Grand Sefton winner, Al Dancer, rolled back the years to come home ten lengths clear in the 63rd renewal of Wincanton's Badger Beer Handicap Chase. 

At the Cheltenham Open meeting Freddie Gingell rode Il Ridoto to victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the following day Harry Cobden made all on Burdett Road to pick up the Greatwood for James Owen and the Gredley family.

Haydock specialist Royal Pagaille saw off Grey Dawning and Bravemansgame in the Betfair Chase while a week later Kandoo Kid claimed the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. 

On the same day the precocious Sir Gino won the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and subsequently, on his first start over fences, beat Ballyburn in the Wayward Lad at Kempton before picking up an injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Having won the Schloer Chase at Cheltenham, Jonbon added the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Clarence House at Ascot before that mistake in the Champion Chase. 

Nicky Henderson's charge then went on to claim a second consecutive victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree but, returning to Sandown on the final day of the season, had no answer to the turn of foot shown by Il Etait Temps in the Celebration Chase.

Mr Vango had quite the exceptional season. 

Sara Bradstock's charge won the London National at Sandown, the Peter Marsh at Haydock and then the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. Unfortunately, when the weights for the Aintree Grand National were framed in February, his rating of 143 wasn't high enough to ensure a place in the final field of 34 runners. Now rated 152, Mr Vango will be aimed at the 2026 Aintree spectacular.

Just before Christmas Crambo won the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot for a second time while at Kempton on Boxing Day Constitution Hill beat Lossiemouth in the Christmas Hurdle, Banbridge ran down the front-running Il Est Francais in the King George, and The Jukebox Man, owned by Harry Redknapp, won the Kauto Star comfortably. 

Unfortunately Harry's pride and joy picked up an injury and missed his intended engagement at Cheltenham - the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - but connections are already talking about the 2026 Gold Cup for their charge, for which he is generally quoted at 25/1 chance.

The Mel Rowley trained Val Dancer emerged from the Chepstow fog in the lead in the Welsh Grand National but, despite subsequently finishing third behind Famous Bridge in Haydock's Grand National Trial, was another runner to miss the cut for the Aintree showpiece.

L'Homme Presse, third behind Banbridge in the King George, looked good winning the Cotswold Chase at the end of January but next time out was run off his feet behind Pic D'Orhy in the Ascot Chase over two miles five furlongs.

At that same Ascot meeting The Changing Man, having finished second in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, the Howden Silver Cup at Ascot, and the Great Yorkshire at Doncaster, strolled home in the Reynoldstown after favourite Jingko Blue fell at the third. 

The owners of Jingko Blue had better luck with Jango Baie; although their horse was beaten a short-head by Handstands in the Scilly Isles at Sandown, he went on to win the Arkle at Cheltenham.

Grey mare Joyeuse won Newbury's competitive William Hill Hurdle eight lengths but couldn't live with Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

A fortnight later Knockanore won the Eider at Newcastle 16 lengths but couldn't build on that while Moroder bounced back to form, winning the Grimthorpe at Doncaster at the beginning of March at odds of 33/1.

And on the Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival Go Dante won a second Imperial Cup for Sean Bowen and Olly Murphy in what proved a breakthrough season for both jockey and trainer. 

Sean Bowen rode 180 winners to claim the jockeys' title, 38 more than nearest rival Harry Cobden while Olly Murphy sent out 141 winners, posting a 25% win strike-rate over the course of the season.

Finally Harry Skelton was crowned the inaugural winner of the David Power Jockeys' Cup. 

Jockeys gained points for finishing in the top four places of races televised by ITV Racing between 15th November 2024 and 4th April 2025; with 420 points, Harry Skelton finished 90 points clear of nearest rival Harry Cobden. 

Harry (Skelton) collected a cool £500,000 for his efforts, with principal trainer (and brother) Dan receiving £50,000, and a further £50,000 being shared among stable staff. 

A brief review of the 2023/24 jumps season

Champion jockey: Harry Cobden

Champion trainer: Willie Mullins

Winning owner: J P McManus

Champion conditional jockey: Patrick Wadge

A week before this year's Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins had plenty of ground to make up to become the first Irish trainer to win the British championship since Vincent O'Brien in 1953/54. 

After nine Festival winners - Gaelic Warrior (Arkle); State Man (Champion Hurdle); Lossiemouth (Mares' Hurdle); Ballyburn (Gallagher Novices' Hurdle); Fact To File (Brown Advisory); Jasmin De Vaux (Champion Bumper); Majborough (Triumph Hurdle); Absurde (County Hurdle) and Galopin Des Champs (Gold Cup) - W P Mullins set his sights on the Grand National. 

7/1 joint favourite I Am Maximus won the Aintree showpiece and a week later Macdermott pipped Surrey Quest a nose in the Scottish National. 

There was almost an air of inevitability about it all at Sandown on the final day when Minella Cocooner went past Annual Invictus after the last to land the bet365 Gold Cup; a total prize money haul of £3,326,135 was £344,716 ahead of nearest challenger Dan Skelton.

Jack Kennedy secured Ireland's jump jockey championship with 123 winners, beating Paul Townend on 121. 

When Ballyburn landed the spoils in the Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle on May 3rd, Willie Mullins became the most successful Irish trainer, having sent out 4,378 winners.

Willie Mullins' annus mirabilis contrasted rather sharply with what Nicky Henderson might reasonably describe as his festum horribilis with several of the yard's runners withdrawn from Cheltenham showpiece races on account of ill health.

Back in the autumn Jetoile sprung a 25/1 surprise in the Old Roan while Blackjack Magic claimed the 62nd running of the Badger Beer Handicap Chase at Wincanton on drying ground.

A week later the going for Cheltenham's November Meeting was soft; we didn't know it at the time but one of the wettest winters in recent memory was to follow. 

Racing from the front Stage Star won the Paddy Power Gold Cup in much the same way he'd won the Turners Novices' Chase in March. 

On the same card plenty thought they'd seen the Triumph Hurdle winner when Burdett Road went clear to win the trial by six and a half lengths. 

The Nicky Henderson trained Sir Gino beat James Owen's charge ten lengths at the end of January, unfortunately missed his intended Festival target but gained compensation at Aintree by winning the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle.

Soft / heavy ground held no fears for Iberico Lord who won the Greatwood and Newbury's Betfair Hurdle; one of the few Henderson runners allowed to take his chance at the Festival, he was pulled up behind State Man in the Champion Hurdle.

Beaten by Gentlemansgame after a mistake at the last in the Charlie Hall, Bravemansgame couldn't live with Royal Pagaille in the Betfair Chase at Haydock; on the same day Shishkin, sporting first-time cheekpieces, refused to start at Ascot in a race won by Pic D'Orhy.

Shishkin and Bravemansgame took on one another in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. 

The former appeared to have the measure of the latter jumping the penultimate flight but Shishkin stumbled a stride or two after the fence and unseated Nico De Boinville. 

Reigning champion Bravemansgame looked to have enough in hand coming to the last but Hewick appeared from a different parish to win going away.

On the same card Il Est Francais looked impregnable in the Kauto Star; next time out he finished 55 lengths last of five at Auteuil. 

In a sad footnote Shishkin was found cast in his box with a fractured hind leg just before he was due to travel over to Ireland to run in the Punchestown Gold Cup.

Datsalrightgino won Newbury's Coral Gold Cup, Jonbon the Tingle Creek and Nassalam the Welsh National. 

At twelve years of age Paisley Park is a credit to all concerned but those connections must still be wondering what they'd done to deserve such a season of near-misses.

Andrew Gemmell's pride and joy was beaten a head by Dashel Drasher in Newbury's Long Distance Hurdle; a short head by Crambo in the Long Walk Hurdle; and a head by Noble Yeats in the Cleeve. Connections announced his retirement after he came home tenth in the Stayers' Hurdle, some 15 lengths behind winner Teahupoo.

My Silver Lining won the Classic Chase at Warwick, Anglers Crag the Eider and Beauport the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter despite jumping right on occasions and charting a wide course on the final circuit. 

It proved a rather chastening season for the blog's selections; the small respite gained during Cheltenham Festival week was desperately required.

Clearly the sport has a number of issues including affordability checks and the prevalence of small fields; the Jockey Club's decision to reduce its contribution to prize money funds following the decline in attendances at this year's Cheltenham Festival must surely have set alarm bells ringing.

Personally, I'm just hoping next season doesn't prove quite as wet as this one.  

A brief review of the 2022/23 jumps season

Champion jockey: Brian Hughes

Champion trainer: Paul Nicholls

Winning owner: J P McManus

Champion conditional jockey: Luca Morgan

In the space of just under an hour on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival Constitution Hill won the Champion Hurdle by nine lengths and then Honeysuckle brought the curtain down on a wonderful racing career by winning the Mares' Hurdle, her seventeenth straight win from nineteen starts.

Galopin Des Champs beat Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup, Energumene won the Champion Chase and Sire Du Berlais surprised a few when coming home first in the Stayers' Hurdle but this year's highlight was that hour on the very first day.

The Ultima form looks strong with winner Corach Rambler going on to beat Vanillier in the Grand National while second Fastorslow provided a 20/1 upset in the Punchestown Gold Cup beating Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame. 

Corach Rambler was beaten nine lengths by Le Milos in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November but Dan Skelton's charge didn't see out the trip in the National and eventually finished tenth.

The long dry summer took its toll on early season fixtures with Wincanton, Exeter and Ludlow among the tracks forced to abandon on account of unsuitable ground. 

February proved unseasonably dry as well. Winter watering restrictions meant Newbury's Betfair Hurdle meeting was run on going officially described as good, good to firm in places; Annual Invictus, Zanza and Betfair Hurdle winner Aucunrisque all posted new course records.

Ga Law won the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's Open meeting and I Like To Move It the Greatwood under top weight. 

The 2022 Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard was sent off 1/2 favourite for the Betfair Chase at Haydock but Henry De Bromhead's charge ran no sort of race at all and was pulled up behind Protektorat. 

Protektorat subsequently finished fifth behind Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup, having taken up the running two out, while A Plus Tard was pulled up in the race before finishing a well beaten third behind Shishkin in the Aintree Bowl.

L'Homme Presse impressed carrying top weight to a comfortable victory in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle but unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last in the King George when looking held by Bravemansgame.

The world appeared Edwardstone's oyster after victory in the Tingle Creek but Alan King's charge unseated in the Desert Orchid Chase over Christmas, was pipped by Editeur Du Gite in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham and then looked strangely lethargic behind Energumene in the Champion Chase.

A cold snap meant there was no turf racing in Britain from Monday 12th December until Tuesday 20th.

The Paul Nicholls trained Tahmuras won the Tolworth in the new year and was sent off an 11/1 chance for the Supreme on the opening day of the Festival. He trailed in tenth behind Marine Nationale, with Irish trained novices filling the first eight places. 

The dominance of Irish novices was seen again the following day in the Ballymore won by Impaire Et Passe but, come Friday, Nicholls had something to cheer when Stay Away Fay stayed on to take the Albert Bartlett. 

Iwilldoit proved well named when winning the Classic Chase at Warwick while the French trained Gold Tweet caused a bit of an upset when coming from last to first to beat Dashel Drasher and Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle.

Cooper's Cross won the Sky Bet Chase, Moroder the Grimthorpe - both run at Doncaster -and Magna Sam the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh but all three subsequently finished behind Kitty's Light. 

Christian Williams' charge appeared slow to come to hand but encouraging signs were spotted behind Annsam at Kempton in January. The diminutive seven-year-old won the Eider over four miles at Newcastle in February and eight weeks later beat Cooper's Cross in the Scottish Grand National (Magna Sam fifth). 

Connections contemplated an audacious attempt for the bet365 Gold Cup, run just one week later at Sandown's jump finale meeting. Kitty's Light jumped the last upsides Moroder and scooted up the hill to win two and a half lengths and provide a fitting end to the season.

And finally, a quick football note to finish off...

Plenty has been said about my home town club, Wrexham, following the arrival of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Fifteen years ago I wrote a post entitled Wrexham wrelegated. It's good to be back in the Football League. 

A brief review of the 2021/22 jumps season

Champion jockey: Brian Hughes

Champion trainer: Paul Nicholls

Winning owner: J P McManus

Champion conditional jockey: Kevin Brogan

With 204 winners, 99 ahead of nearest challenger Sam Twiston-Davies, champion jockey Brian Hughes joined a select band of riders who have ridden more than 200 jump winners in a season - Peter Scudamore, Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Johnson. 

In the week leading up to the Grand National Mr Sam Waley-Cohen announced his retirement from the saddle, indicating Noble Yeats in the National would be his last ride. He then went out and rode the 50/1 chance to victory, coming home two and a quarter lengths ahead of Any Second Now. Trainer Emmet Mullins won the Grand National with his first runner in the race. 

Robbie Power wanted to retire by winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard 2021 winner Minella Indo. Unfortunately for Robbie Rachael Blackmore had unfinished business from last year; A Plus Tard came home 15 lengths ahead of his stablemate. Robbie's final ride was aboard Teahupoo in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.    

And after a career spanning 36 years, Dave Roberts, jockey agent to the stars, was another to announce his retirement.

Rachael Blackmore won a second Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle, Flooring Porter a second Stayers' Hurdle.  

L'Homme Presse looked impressive in the Brown Advisory but Ahoy Senor turned the tables at Aintree. 

This year's Champion Chase was billed a rematch between between Shiskin and Energumene. 

Nico De Boinville thought the former was 'cooked' in the Clarence House at Ascot but somehow his mount managed to dig deep and beat the latter a length in a race that, for once, lived up to all the pre-race hyperbole.

Heavy rain preceded the re-match. Shishkin never went a yard in the soft ground and was pulled up before the ninth; Energumene won at odds of 5/2. 

Constitution Hill's annihilation of his opponents in the Supreme will live long in the memory; Nicky Henderson's charge is currently quoted 2/1 favourite for the 2023 Champion Hurdle.

Prices of a different sort perturbed punters at this year's Festival: Guinness £7.00 a pint; pasty £7.50;  gin and tonic £14.00; Moet & Chandon (20cl) £29.00; bottle of sauvignon blanc £80.00. 

Many took to social media to voice their displeasure, vowing not to return next year. 

You can't help but wonder whether those in charge are in danger of killing the goose that lays the golden egg; plans for a five-day Festival appear to be at an advanced stage.   

During an unseasonably dry autumn Midnight Shadow won the Paddy Power Gold Cup, West Cork the Greatwood, Nube Negra the Shloer, A Plus Tard the Betfair Chase and Cloudy Glen the Ladbrokes Trophy.

The Robbie Dunne / Bryony Frost case allowed punters a peek into the inner sanctum of the weighing room and it didn't prove particularly edifying. Dunne was suspended for 18 months for bullying Frost; on appeal his ban was reduced to 10 months.

Snow Leopardess beat Hill Sixteen a nose in the Becher and was well backed for the National but the grey mare failed to handle the Aintree preliminaries. Aidan Coleman looked after her, pulling up after one circuit; he received plenty of earache for his troubles.

Champ won the Long Walk in December and was sent off 8/15 favourite for the Cleeve; he was comprehensively beaten by Paisley Park who lost 20 lengths at the start yet still came home over three lengths to the good. 

Frodon (Bryony Frost) and Minella Indo (Rachael Blackmore) took each other on from the start in the King George at Kempton allowing Danny Mullins and Tornado Flyer to come from behind and pick up the pieces.

Iwilldoit did it in fine style and won an attritional Welsh National.  

Conceding 16 pounds Royal Pagaille pipped Sam Brown half a length in the Peter Marsh at Haydock while Glory And Fortune became the first horse older than six to win the Betfair Hurdle since Geos in 2004. 

Saturday February 26th 2022 will be a day Christian Williams won't forget in a hurry. Win My Wings beat Eclair Surf in the Eider at Newcastle and half an hour later Cap Du Nord beat stablemate Kitty's Light in the Coral Trophy at Kempton. 

Five weeks later Williams saddled Win My Wings and Kitty's Light to finish first and second in the Scottish Grand National. 

Fellow Welsh trainer Evan Williams certainly has a character on his hands with Coole Cody. The 2020 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner was still in the lead when coming to grief two out in this year's renewal. Four weeks later  he won Racing Post Gold Cup over the course and distance - and the Craft Irish Whiskey Co Plate at the Festival at odds of 22/1. 

On the final day at Sandown Greaneteen won the Celebration Chase and Irish raider Hewick the bet365 Chase with something to spare.

For a second year Flooring Porter is nominated blog horse of the year for that victory in the Stayers' Hurdle.

I'm getting on a bit now, I know, but the sport just doesn't seem quite the same. In a recent post on his ATR blog Kevin Blake told readers National Hunt racing needs to wake up before it's too late. 

Some food for thought there.

A brief review of the 2020/21 jumps season

Champion jockey: Harry Skelton

Champion trainer: Paul Nicholls

Winning owner: J P McManus

Champion conditional jockey: Danny McMenamin

In a season like no other, jump racing eventually came under starter's orders at Southwell on Wednesday July 1st; racing behind closed doors, the Paul Nicholls trained Nineohtwooneoh won the Sign Solutions Nottingham Novices' Handicap Chase ten lengths. 

Following two pilot events at Warwick and Doncaster, spectators returned briefly to the track in December but lockdown restrictions were quickly re-introduced as coronavirus cases increased. Owners made a limited return to the track on March 29th.  

On Saturday April 10th Rachael Blackmore rode the Henry De Bromhead trained Minella Times to victory in the Grand National, ensuring her name went into the history books as the first woman to win the race.

You'd be hard pressed to say you couldn't have seen it coming. 

Three weeks earlier Rachael had become the first female leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, riding six winners - one more than Team GB managed to record.

Particularly impressive were Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle) and Bob Olinger (Ballymore), both from De Bromhead's yard. The handler had the first two home in the Gold Cup as well but Rachael was aboard A Plus Tard, beaten one and a quarter lengths by stablemate Minella Indo with Jack Kennedy in the plate. 

Irish trained horses won 23 of the 28 races at this year's Festival, a fact that has generated plenty of discussion since - on both sides of the Irish Sea. Put The Kettle On and Flooring Porter claimed the feature events on Wednesday's and Thursday's cards respectively. 

On Boxing Day Bryony Frost became the first woman to ride the winner of the King George at Kempton. Frodon jumped out to his left on occasions but the pair proved unstoppable and made all to win.

Back in the autumn Nuts Well provided trainer Ann Hamilton and jockey Danny McMenamin with their biggest win to date when staying on to win the Old Roan at Aintree.

In the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's Open meeting Coole Cody was set alight by loose horse Siruh Du Lac and quickly built up a handy lead. He nearly lost his hind legs at the fourth and while the jumping was pretty hairy at times, crucially he never lost momentum. Spiritofthegames looked all over the winner at the last but Evan Williams' charge wasn't for passing, coming home three and a quarter lengths clear.

Williams also claimed two notable scalps with canny front-running tactics. Silver Streak beat Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton while Navajo Pass beat Buveur D'Air in Haydock's Champion Hurdle Trial. 

The trainer also achieved a lifetime ambition when sending out Secret Reprieve to win the re-arranged Welsh Grand National in January - the horse was backed as though defeat was out of the question and so it proved. Unfortunately Secret Reprieve just missed the cut for the Aintree National. 

Emmet Mullins saddled The Shunter to win the Greatwood Hurdle 'comfortably'. 

At the beginning of March the horse returned to Britain to win Kelso's Morebattle Hurdle and then just 12 days later landed connections a bumper £100,000 bonus when winning the Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase on the Cheltenham Festival Thursday card. 

Emmet Mullins' runners certainly proved worthy of a second look when sent over to Britain - his Cape Gentleman won the Dovecote in fine style. 

Bristol De Mai won another Betfair Chase at Haydock and a week later Cloth Cap ran away with the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase on good ground. Connections quickly indicated the Grand National was the target. 

The manner of his victory in the Premier Chase at Kelso in March ensured Jonjo O'Neill's charge was sent off 11/2 favourite for the Aintree spectacular. The gelding was bang in the mix but stumbled four from home and was quickly pulled up; jockey Tom Scudamore reported his mount had made a respiratory noise. 

Conor O'Farrell rode Vieux Lion Rouge to beat Kimberlite Candy an astonishing 24 lengths in the Becher Chase in December. In the National Vieux Lion Rouge blemished his record over the big fences with a fall at the 20th fence while Kimberlite Candy was pulled up.

Chatham Street Lad went into everyone's notebook when winning the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup 15 lengths. Michael Winters' charge subsequently finished fourth in the Marsh Novices' Chase at the Festival, eight lengths behind Chantry House after 4/9 hotpot Envoi Allen had departed at the fourth.

Sam's Adventure won the Tommy Whittle at Haydock and then unseated Ryan Mania in the Peter Marsh won by Royal Pagaille. Brian Ellison's charge then proceeded to add the Eider Chase to his haul before unseating Henry Brooke in the Scottish National.

Royal Pagaille went on to run in the Gold Cup as owner Mrs S Ricci was represented by Monkfish in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. On the day neither horse jumped to the best of their ability; Monkfish still came home in front while Royal Pagaille finished sixth. 

Aidan Coleman and Paisley Park won a thrilling renewal of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, collaring Thyme Hill in the shadow of the post, much to the exasperation of Richard Johnson. 

Thyme Hill missed Cheltenham with a slight setback but next time out in the Aintree Stayers' Hurdle Tom O'Brien took the ride after four time champion Richard Johnson had announced his retirement from the saddle the week before. Thyme Hill and Tom O'Brien wore down Roksana to collect the spoils with Paisley Park pulled up. 

Cheltenham's New Year's Day and Trials meetings were both abandoned, washed away due to waterlogging.

Before this year's Classic Chase Alan King had described Warwick as 'probably my favourite course' in his Racing Post Weekender column. 

If only I'd taken the hint - his Notachance (7/2jf) took up the running three from home and passed the post half a length ahead of the Venetia Williams trained grey Achille.

Two veterans chasers merit a mention - Sandy Thomson brought Seeyouatmidnight down from Berwickshire to win the Veterans' Final at Sandown while 40/1 shot Takingrisks stayed on to beat Aye Right in Doncaster's Sky Bet Chase. Handler Nicky Richards was visibly moved in the post-race interview, telling viewers the horse was his hack. 

A mighty season for Mighty Thunder - the Lucinda Russell trained gelding won the Edinburgh National, finished second to Time To Get Up in a strong renewal of the Midlands Grand National and then outstayed Dingo Dollar to claim the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. 

The same yard unleashed an exciting prospect in the shape of Ahoy Senor who won the Doom Bar Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree at odds of 66/1.

At the season's Sandown finale Champion Chase fourth Greaneteen surprised a few by coming home ahead of Altior and Sceau Royal in the Celebration Chase while a thrilling finish to the bet365 Gold Cup saw first past the post Enrilo demoted to third after causing interference with the fast-finishing Kitty's Light. 

Potterman was awarded the race in the stewards' room; Kitty's Light was promoted to second while El Presente faded into fourth in the shadow of the post. The first, second and fourth had finished second, third and first respectively in Wincanton's Badger Beers Silver Trophy in November.

Harry Skelton was duly crowned champion jockey following a protracted duel with Brian Hughes.

After a shaky start, a reasonable season for the blog, the highlight being this year's performance at the Cheltenham Festival; Flooring Porter is nominated blog horse of the year on the back of that all-the-way win in the Stayers' Hurdle. 

The ability of my wife to walk into our front room and, more often than not, pick the winner of the next without even the slightest nod in the direction of the formbook remains a source of some considerable irritation. 

Finally, lest we forget the dangers associated with this sport... 

On Sunday April 18th amateur rider Lorna Brooke died from the injuries she suffered when falling heavily from her mother's horse Orchestrated at Taunton on April 8th.

Chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority Julie Harrington paid tribute:

"Lorna was a much-loved member of our sport, in which she and her family are steeped. Lorna demonstrated many of the qualities that make British racing so special. She was a proud competitor and somebody who was driven by an abundance of love not only for the sport but for the horses she competed with. My thoughts, along with everybody else who loves racing, are with Lorna's family, friends and colleagues at this dreadful time."

A brief review of the 2019/20 jumps season

Champion jockey: Brian Hughes
Champion trainer: Nicky Henderson
Winning owner: J P McManus
Champion conditional jockey: Jonjo O'Neill Jr

On Tuesday 17 March Aidan Coleman rode the Charlie Longsdon trained Glencassley (9/4f) to victory in the concluding bumper at Wetherby in what proved to be the final race of a traumatic British jumps season brought to a premature conclusion by the coronavirus pandemic.

British racing went into lockdown and six days later the country followed suit.

The Racing Post's final print edition appeared on Thursday 26 March; with an estimated average daily circulation figure below 35,000, many commentators fear print publication may never resume. 

On Saturday 21 March ITV4 transmitted racing from Thurles held behind closed doors; the final meeting in Ireland took place at Clonmel on Tuesday 24 March.

Prior to that point the season had been characterised by bouts of torrential rain, abandonments, small fields and heavy going.

The omens weren't particularly good back in the autumn when I made my annual trip to the Ludlow races. Late to the track, stuck in traffic the wrong side of a road crossing, we were forced to watch my pick in the first, Balinsker, lead his field around the home turn; the beast went on to win comfortably at odds of 4/1.

Two mares caught the eye early season. Misty Bloom was backed from 16/1 to win the Richard Barber Memorial Mares' Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton at odds of 9/2 and a week later Happy Diva (14/1) collected the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Lostintranslation put up an eye-catching performance when beating previous winner Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock; afterwards connections anticipated the King George with some relish.

The Ascot duel between unbeaten Altior  and the higher rated Cyrname over a trip of two miles five furlongs had received appropriate billing as 'the clash of the titans'. Only other runner Solomon Grey was adrift after the first; Altior struggled to jump out of the soft ground and lost that unbeaten record.

Cyrname meanwhile was sent off 5/4 favourite for the King George at Kempton. The spark wasn't quite there on Boxing Day and he had no answer to stablemate Clan Des Obeaux who won the race decisively for the second consecutive year. Betfair Chase winner Lostintranslation proved a major disappointment and was pulled up; connections reported the gelding had suffered a breathing problem.

Cornerstone Lad was returned the shock winner of the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, beating Buveur D'Air a short head. Jockey Barry Geraghty dismounted from the 2/13 favourite immediately after crossing the line; the gelding was found to have a splinter of wood in his off fore after making a hash of the penultimate flight.

De Rasher Counter brought home the bacon for connections in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury; Ben Jones claimed five and held nearest rival The Conditional one and a half lengths.

Walk In The Mill beat Kimberlite Candy in the Becher and both names went into notebooks for a Grand National that would never take place.

Five weeks later Kimberlite Candy gained compensation, snatching victory from front-running Captain Chaos in the Classic Chase at Warwick. Captain Chaos - a sobriquet we often use to refer to the father-in-law - went to Doncaster the following month and claimed the Grimthorpe by an astonishing 54 lengths.

The ill-fated Warthog was generally known as something of a weak finisher but he proved doubters and critics wrong when fighting back to claim Cheltenham's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup from 40/1 outsider Spiritofthegames. On his next outing at the very same track the David Pipe trained grey cleared the first but injured himself in the process and could not be saved.

Members of the Wide Awake Club thought Not So Sleepy had the look of a handicap snip in Ascot's Betfair Exchange Trophy (also known as The Ladbroke) but even so Hughie Morrison's charge ran an extraordinary race from the front, beating nearest rival Monsieur Lecoq nine lengths. The standing start caught the front-runner dozing in the Betfair Hurdle - 33/1 shot Pic D'Orhy won - and he was subsequently pulled up in the Champion Hurdle.

Potters Corner, part-owned by Welsh rugby international Jonathan Davies, won the Welsh National for Welsh trainer Christian Williams with Welsh seven pound claimer Jack Tudor in the plate. After that performance the Grand National at Aintree was always going to be the next target.

It was decidedly touch-and-go whether this year's Cheltenham Festival would take place at all but, following advice proffered by government and the installation of temporary hand sanitizer stations, Cheltenham went ahead as planned. That decision has been the subject of some considerable scrutiny since and, you suspect, there will be plenty more to come.

Friday's Gold Cup saw a thrilling three-way finish between Al Boum Photo, the fast-finishing Santini and Lostintranslation on his first run after a breathing operation - and that was the order they crossed the line; Al Boum Photo became the first horse since Best Mate to win back-to-back Gold Cups.

2/1 favourite Epatante won an open-looking if somewhat sub-standard renewal of the Champion Hurdle in fine style but there were shocks in store in the feature races on both Wednesday and Thursday.

The defection on the day of both Altior and Chacun Pour Soi looked to have left the Champion Chase at the mercy of 2/5 favourite Defi Du Seuil but Philip Hobbs' charge found little when asked to close on Politologue; the Paul Nicholls trained grey made all to beat stablemate Dynamite Dollars nine and a half lengths.

Paisley Park was sent off 4/6 favourite for the World Hurdle but he trailed in seventh behind 50/1 winner Lisnagar Oscar; after the race Emma Lavelle's charge was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.

Many thought Samcro's nose defeat of Melon with Faugheen third in the Marsh Novices' Chase the race of the entire meeting while the turn-of-foot Champ displayed after the last in the RSA will live long in the memory.

For sheer drama though nothing could quite compare to Goshen's mistake at the last when ten lengths clear in the Triumph - footage clearly showed the gelding trapping his hind and front shoes together -  which resulted in the unseating of jockey Jamie Moore, the race at their mercy. Burning Victory, the principal beneficiary, was the first leg of a treble for Paul Townend and a four-timer for Willie Mullins on the day...

With the population in quarantine, 4.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the virtual Grand National, bookmakers donating profits of over £2.6 million to NHS charities.

The three previous renewals of the virtual race had proved remarkably prescient when compared to actual results; this year Potters Corner (18/1) came home in front but many thought Christian Williams' Welsh National hero 'an unlikely winner' given the virtual going was described as good while Potters Corner had shown his best form on heavy.
 
There was no fairytale ending for Richard Johnson when unseating from Westend Story at Exeter on January 21 - he suffered a broken arm in the mishap. 37 days later Johnson was back in the plate, riding a double for Olly Murphy at Musselburgh. but his hopes of retaining the jockeys' title had all but disappeared. Riding mainly in the north, Brian Hughes collected his inaugural jump jockeys' championship with 141 winners, 19 ahead of Johnson.

'Least said, soonest mended' would be the most succinct way of summarising a dismal season for the blog's selections; the imposition of lockdown has seen a slight amelioration in circumstances - never waste a crisis as they say. A small profit was realised at the Cheltenham Festival and for that reason Ultima Handicap Chase winner The Conditional is nominated as blog horse of the year.

On 30 April Cornelius Lysaght declared his 'BBC race is run' after 29 years and 8 months with the corporation but he was keen to emphasise that did not signal his retirement from the sport.

In these extraordinary times jump racing is provisionally set to return on 1 July, with winners since the beginning of February able to retain their novice status until 30 November. In the meantime, stay safe.

A brief review of the 2018/19 jumps season

Champion jockey: Richard Johnson
Champion trainer: Paul Nicholls
Winning owner: J P McManus
Champion conditional jockey: Bryony Frost

Any review of this season has to start with last season's Grand National winner Tiger Roll.

Small and nothing particular to look at, Tiger Roll won the Cross Country race at this year's Festival as though he'd joined in at the last.Three and a half weeks later, sent off 4/1 favourite to become the first horse since Red Rum to win back-to-back Nationals, Tiger Roll won the 2019 Grand National as though he'd joined in at the last.

Cue pandemonium.

Letters were written to The Times comparing the feats of Red Rum and those of Tiger Roll with readers making the case for their own particular favourite. The BHA handicapper certainly knew what he thought of it all.

Takingrisks took a few in the Scottish Grand National but they paid off handsomely for Nicky Richards' inmate while a slog in the Chepstow mud suited Elegant Escape down to the ground in the Welsh Grand National; the following month Colin Tizzard's charge was beaten threequarters of a length by Frodon in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.

Bryony Frost and Frodon struck up the partnership of the season. Prior to that win in the Cotswold Chase the pair had won the Old Roan at Aintree, finished second behind Baron Alco in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham and won the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at the same track.

Connections were sorely tempted to take their chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but in the end the pragmatic decision to run in the Ryanair was rewarded with a thrilling victory, Frodon dismissing the early attentions of Sub Lieutenant and regaining the lead from Aso after the last.

Against a backdrop of Brexit brouhaha and innumerable indicative votes, other Festival winners included Espoir D'Allen, the surprise package in the Champion Hurdle; Altior, 'workmanlike' in the Champion Chase; and Paisley Park, maintaining his unbeaten run for the season, in the Stayers' Hurdle.

Before the start of this season Willie Mullins had never trained a Cheltenham Gold Cup or Irish National winner.

The maestro held four chances in this year's Cheltenham showpiece but poor Willie must have thought the racing gods were conspiring against him with Kemboy unseating at the first, Bellshill pulled up before the ninth and Invitation Only falling fatally at the tenth.

Al Boum Photo's jumping could be described as scratchy in the early stages but he warmed to his task through the race; Paul Townend sent his charge on as they turned for home and the pair were not for catching, finishing clear of Anibale Fly, Bristol De Mai, Native River (poor start proved costly) and Clan Des Obeaux (did not come up the hill).

Five weeks later Mr. Mullins added the Irish National to the curriculum vitae courtesy of Burrows Saint.

Previously Bristol De Mai had repeated his party piece in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and Clan Des Obeaux had established himself as a chaser to reckon with by winning the King George at Kempton but Kemboy didn't always enjoy the best of luck during the season.

Apart from unseating David Mullins at the first in the Gold Cup, the gelding was unable to run in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury following the cancellation of his intended ferry service from Ireland - Sizing Tennessee was the principal beneficiary.

Kemboy's connections claimed ample compensation with wins in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown, the Betway Bowl at Aintree (Clan Des Obeaux nine lengths adrift) and, with Ruby Walsh up, the Punchestown Gold Cup where he beat stablemate and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo two lengths.

Victorious jockey Ruby Walsh dismounted and promptly announced his retirement - with immediate effect:

"When you're going out at Punchestown, you go out on a winner. You'll never again see me on a horse - I'm finished. That's it - it's all over."

While McCoy will forever be associated with the number of winners he rode, Walsh will forever be associated with the big winners he rode, primarily for Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls. A supreme stylist, he remains, for many observers, the greatest rider of his generation.

The BHA didn't have the best of years. Their decision in early February to suspend all UK racing after three of Donald McCain's horses tested positive for equine influenza didn't meet with universal approval. With the Cheltenham Festival on the horizon, emergency regulations were passed requiring all runners to have received appropriate vaccination within the preceding six month period while any horse receiving a new vaccination could not run for seven days.

The arbitrary, immediate introduction of those regulations definitely favoured trainers who habitually vaccinate around Christmas and January time. Racing resumed after a six-day shutdown.

When Cyrname won Ascot's bet365 Chase by 21 lengths in January, many struggled to believe what they had just seen - and I was one of them. Four weeks later the same horse put in a similar performance at the same track to collect the Ascot Chase, beating Waiting Patiently 17 lengths - in so doing, he became the highest rated chaser in training.

Paul Nicholls recorded his 3,000th jumps winner in Britain courtesy of Kupatana while on Easter Sunday Dan Skelton became only the second trainer to have sent out 200 British jumps winners in a season. Martin Pipe predicted his all-time record of 243 winners was under threat from Dan; Richard Johnson's jockeys' title looks under threat from Dan's brother, Harry.

The eagerly anticipated clash between Altior and Cyrname in Sandown's Celebration Chase on the final day of the season failed to materialise on account of the ground.

At odds of 1/6 Altior collected the spoils and in the process became the first horse to win 19 consecutive jumps races. Trainer Nicky Henderson has indicated a tilt at the King George in December is now on the cards. Half an hour or so after Altior's record-breaking victory, Talkischeap looked like something to keep in mind for future discussion when winning the bet365 Chase in taking fashion.

This blog has been called plenty of names in the past but this year PG can say the teas are on me.

Sainsbury's singing chief executive Mike Coupe warned me that publicly celebrating a financial success can backfire badly when things subsequently go wrong - far better to just keep schtum. The trouble is I wasn't listening.

This season the blog's highlighted selections show a profit of 45 points to advised prices and over 30 points to starting prices (detail here).

When New Agenda (6/1) covered the expenses at Ludlow's second October meet, little did I realise what was in store. Two days later Relentless Dreamer obliged in a 16 runner Cheltenham handicap and we were up and running.

Put simply, I have never known the like - and it's highly unlikely I ever will again.

Blog horse of the year goes to Crosspark for his thrilling win in the Eider Chase and then a battling second behind Takingrisks in the Scottish Grand National.

And, bless my old boots, in February that New Agenda went and won again - on the snow in St Moritz!

A brief review of the 2017/18 jumps season

Champion jockey: Richard Johnson
Champion trainer: Nicky Henderson
Winning owner: J P McManus
Champion conditional jockey: James Bowen

This proved the wettest season in recent memory; trainers with good ground horses were still waiting for the ground to dry out at Sandown's final meeting.

Underfoot conditions certainly played to Native River's strengths as Colin Tizzard's charge stayed on up the hill to beat Might Bite in an epic duel for the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup; champion jockey Richard Johnson could barely stop smiling in post-race interviews.

Those who doubted Might Bite's powers of recovery after such a tough race were made to look a tad foolish four weeks later when the gelding collected the Betway Bowl at Aintree with the minimum of fuss.

Irish domination was a feature of this year's Cheltenham Festival and that domination was further emphasized at Aintree with Irish-trained horses filling the first four places in the Grand National.

After coming home first in the cross country race at the Festival, a month later the 2014 Triumph Hurdle winner Tiger Roll just held Pleasant Company a head to claim this year's National; Racing Post readers voted Gordon Elliott's charge their Jumps Horse of the Year on the back of those exploits.

Footpad, Samcro and Presenting Percy looked particularly impressive at Cheltenham; Buveur D'Air claimed the Champion Hurdle and Altior the Champion Chase for Nicky Henderson.

Way back in mid-November Splash Of Ginge sparked wild celebrations among connections when claiming the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham. There weren't too many others joining in - Nigel Twiston-Davies' inmate was sent off at odds of 25/1 and had just enough in reserve to hold Starchitect a neck on the line.

Four weeks later the ill-fated Starchitect appeared to have gained compensation in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup when bursting clear three out but the gelding broke down, allowing the Nicky Richards trained Guitar Pete to claim the spoils.

Bristol De Mai demolished his opponents in Haydock's Betfair Chase, beating Cue Card an eye-watering 57 lengths, but he couldn't reproduce that form at other tracks.

Irish raider Total Recall was sent off favourite for the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase (formerly the Hennessy) at Newbury and the money proved well-placed with Willie Mullins' charge holding Whisper a neck; the form of the race didn't really work out thereafter.

Might Bite took the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day but the proximity of Double Shuffle and Tea For Two led several to question the validity of the form. 2016 winner Thistlecrack also caught the eye back in fourth but he subsequently picked up an injury and unfortunately missed the remainder of the season.

The rescheduled Welsh Grand National was a memorable affair with sixteen year old conditional James Bowen guiding thirteen year old Raz De Maree to victory six lengths ahead of Alfie Spinner; the two oldest horses in the race finished first and second.

Bryony Frost proved a breath of fresh air throughout the long winter months; her association with Black Corton has been well documented while her efforts aboard Milansbar in Warwick's Classic Chase were certainly appreciated by handler Neil King. The pair were reunited in the Grand National and finished a creditable fifth.

Over the other side of the Irish Sea Samcro's fall in the Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival effectively ended Gordon Elliott's challenge to become champion Irish trainer; Willie Mullins secured his eleventh consecutive title.

At the same meeting Paul Townend suffered a dramatic 'brain freeze' when steering Al Boum Photo around the final flight with the Growise Novice Chase seemingly at his mercy. The jock returned the next day to ride a treble aboard Pravalaguna, Next Destination and Patricks Park.

On Friday 27 April Ms Katie Walsh won aboard Antey at Punchestown and promptly announced her retirement from the saddle; the following day Ms Nina Carberry won aboard Josies Orders at Punchestown and promptly announced her retirement from the saddle.

Blog selections fared considerably better than last year but, hey, that's really not saying very much at all.

I've noted that the form of the selections picked up markedly from February onwards, kick-started by Full Jack and a rather fortuitous victory in the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh. Worryingly, I can't fathom how that improvement came about.

Blog horse of the year has to go to Smooth Stepper who won the Liz Adam Memorial Chase at Kelso in a manner I could only dream of.

And the new season starts with the news that Sam Twiston-Davies has gone freelance and Harry Cobden is now the new number one at Ditcheat...

Philip Hobbs is on record saying that after such a wet winter he's going to keep a number of his good ground horses on the go over the summer. I wonder how many other trainers will follow suit.

And is there, perhaps, just the hint of an opportunity there?

A brief review of the 2016/17 jumps season

Champion jockey: Richard Johnson
Champion trainer: Nicky Henderson
Winning owner: J P McManus
Champion conditional jockey: Harry Cobden

The exceptionally dry autumn meant the season was rather slow to pick up a discernible rhythm. Taquin Du Seuil mugged Village Vic to win the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham's Open meeting; a week later Cue Card beat Coneygree fifteen lengths in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

It soon became clear Cue Card wasn't the only star in Colin Tizzard's yard. Sent off favourite, Native River appeared to win the Hennessy with something in hand and then put in a monstrous effort to win the Welsh National off top weight on going that was officially described as soft but looked desperately heavy.

In the meantime Thistlecrack was cutting his teeth over the larger obstacles before going to Kempton at Christmas to beat stablemate Cue Card three and a quarter lengths in the King George showpiece. At that same meeting Might Bite was some eighteen lengths clear of his nearest pursuer when taking a crashing fall at the final flight in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase.

ITV took over terrestrial racing coverage from Channel Four on New Year's Day; their inaugural transmission fell some way short of the standard required with heavy showers causing problems for commentators and cameramen alike. Improvements followed, with innovative feature pieces proving particularly popular.

In a dramatic Cotswold Chase at the Cheltenham Trials meeting Many Clouds beat Thistlecrack a head and then in desperately sad circumstances collapsed and died, having suffered a 'severe pulmonary haemorrhage'; he was subsequently voted Jumps Horse of the Year.

Following victory in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot, Yanworth appeared to be heading for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but plans were quickly revised a week or so later after Unowhatimeanharry, in the same ownership, won Newbury's Long Distance Hurdle.

'Harry' went into the big one unbeaten since his move from Helen Nelmes' yard in October 2015; on the day he ran a little flat, finishing third behind Nichols Canyon. Next time out Harry Fry's star reversed the form, beating his Cheltenham conqueror a head in Punchestown's Labrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle.

Re-routed Yanworth, sent off favourite for the Champion Hurdle, was beaten some way out; Buveur D'Air claimed the title. Stepped up to three miles next time, Yanworth gained compensation, beating Supasundae a length in the Ryanair Stayers' Liverpool Hurdle.

At 1/4 Douvan couldn't be opposed in the Champion Chase on Wednesday's card but an overreach at the third effectively put paid to his chance. Special Tiara blazed a trail from the front and had just enough in reserve to hold the fast-finishing Fox Norton a neck.

Beforehand many felt the absence of Thistlecrack (and last year's winner Don Cossack) had devalued this year's Gold Cup but a new star was born in the shape of Sizing John who bounded up the hill to beat Minella Rocco and Native River with some authority. On the day Cue Card's jumping was scratchy at times with the eleven-year-old coming to grief at exactly the same fence that had caught him out when travelling so well last year.

Lizzie Kelly made history by becoming the first female professional jockey to ride in the Gold Cup. Tea For Two was particularly buzzed up in the preliminaries and the partnership lasted no further than the second fence; Kelly made amends three weeks later, pipping Cue Card a neck in Aintree's Betway Bowl.

Vieux Lion Rouge turned up for the Grand National with a win in the Becher Chase and Haydock's Grand National Trial to his name. Blaklion went off the 8/1 favourite but Warwick Classic Chase winner One For Arthur became the first Scottish-trained horse to come home in front since Rubstic in 1979. Jockey Derek Fox, only recently returned to the saddle after breaking a wrist and collarbone in March, gave the gelding a supreme hold-up ride.

Vicente, an unfortunate first fence faller in the Grand National, turned out at Ayr a fortnight later and became the first horse to record back-to-back victories in the Scottish Grand National since Androma (1984/85).

At the start of the final day, the trainers' title remained undecided. Arkle winner Altior recorded a facile victory in the Celebration Chase at Sandown, thereby ensuring Nicky Henderson claimed the prize from incumbent champion Paul Nicholls.

Across the Irish Sea, Willie Mullins had endured something of an annus horribilis for the most part but in unlikely circumstances he pinched the trainers' title from long-time leader Gordon Elliott on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.

It was a torrid season for the blog with many of the selections patently failing to live up to expectations. The one notable exception was Special Tiara whose victory in the Champion Chase at least ensured a profit was recorded at the Festival; Special Tiara is blog horse of the year.

And on Monday 1st May 11/10 favourite Bedrock, trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by Harry, won the first race of the new season, Warwick's John Greasley Sportfield Contractors Novices' Hurdle.

A brief review of the 2014/15 jumps season

Champion jockey: A P McCoy
Champion trainer: Paul Nicholls
Leading conditional rider: Sean Bowen

On the final day of the season, amidst emotional scenes at Sandown, Tony McCoy claimed his 20th successive jockeys' title and retired from the saddle having amassed 4357 winners in an exceptional riding career. On course for 300 winners in the early part of the season, McCoy suffered injuries which made that particular target unattainable.

Paul Nicholls won the trainers' title and in the process earned himself the nickname 'Mr Saturday' as inmates from the yard plundered the top jumps prizes throughout the winter months; Dodging Bullets emerged as the season's best two mile chaser.

Silviniaco Conti was tapped for toe behind Menorah on his reappearance in the Charlie Hall but the Ditcheat gelding claimed Haydock's Betfair Chase and the King George at Kempton before disappointing once again in the Gold Cup. The horse made amends four weeks later in Aintree's Betfred Bowl with connections now reluctantly accepting the horse is unlikely to win a Gold Cup.

This year's Cheltenham showpiece went to a novice for the first time in over 40 years. Coneygree jumped for fun from the front under Nico De Boinville and the conditional rider had kept enough up his sleeve to repel the late challenge of Djakadam and Ruby Walsh on the climb to the line.

Willie Mullins took the Festival by storm - Douvan (Supreme), Un De Sceaux (Arkle) and Faugheen (Champion Hurdle) all obliged on the opening day and the trainer's Annie Power appeared to have the mares' hurdle in the bag coming to the last but she took a crashing fall that saved the layers around £40 million in payouts.

Vautour's display of jumping to win the JLT Novices' Chase on the Thursday is something I will remember for a long time.

Trained by Oliver Sherwood, Many Clouds made a low-key seasonal debut in Carlisle's Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase but a month later the horse had the Hennessy in the bag. After victory in Cheltenham's BetBright Cup (previously known as the Argento), connections expected a strong show in the Gold Cup but the horse was a little disappointing in sixth. Four weeks on owner Trevor Hemmings watched the horse run 38 rivals ragged around Aintree to collect the 2015 Crabbie's Gand National at odds of 25/1.

At the start of the season Nicky Henderson was considered the most likely winner of the trainers' title but he suffered an indifferent season. The return of stable star Sprinter Sacre at Ascot in January was eagerly-awaited; perhaps the horse isn't quite as good as he once was but a six length second to Special Tiara at Sandown will give connections plenty of hope for the future.

Of course, we thought nothing would detract attention from McCoy's retirement day but 17 year old Sean Bowen did his best with a double on Lil Rockerfeller in the opener and Paul Nicholls' Just A Par in the feature bet365 Gold Cup. This precocious talent was quoted 33/1 for next year's jockeys' title; Richard Johnson, who rode a double on the same card, has been installed 13/8 favourite.

A review of the 2013/14 jumps season

Champion jockey: A P McCoy
Champion trainer: Paul Nicholls
Winning owner: J P McManus
Leading conditional rider: Gavin Sheehan

This time last year Nicky Henderson was long odds-on to retain the trainers' title but last year's Arkle winner Simonsig missed the entire season while stable star Sprinter Sacre, pulled up on his seasonal debut in Kempton's Desert Orchid Chase, was found to have an irregular heartbeat. Later the problem was reported to have 'righted itself' but the gelding hasn't raced in public since.

As is so often the case in racing, it's an ill wind... Sire De Grugy stepped up to win six of his seven starts including Cheltenham's Queen Mother Champion Chase; Gary Moore's charge was named jumps Horse of the Year.

Riding at Towcester on Thursday November 7th McCoy recorded his 4,000th win aboard a horse called Mountain Tunes and two days later Richie McLernon rode Johns Spirit to victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

A week on and any lingering doubts about Cue Card's ability to stay three miles appeared to have been answered as Joe Tizzard made all to claim Haydock's Betfair Chase, with Dynaste, Silviniaco Conti and Gold Cup holder Bobs Worth all well beaten. At Kempton on Boxing Day Colin Tizzard's stable star looked set to confirm that form in the King George but in heart-breaking fashion Cue Card ran out of petrol in the home straight and was outstayed by Silviniaco Conti.

Cue Card missed the remainder of the season through injury while regular pilot Joe Tizzard later announced his retirement from race-riding.

At that same Kempton meeting My Tent Or Yours pipped The New One in the Christmas Hurdle - both horses set their sights on the Champion in March. A vintage renewal saw Jezki claim the crown holding McCoy's mount My Tent Or Yours a neck with The New One third.

The bare result only tells half the story. The New One was badly hampered after Our Conor fell fatally at the third but he still finished like a train while McCoy had had the choice between the first two but chose the wrong one.

That evening the champ will have been cursing his luck and his mood will have turned darker still two days later when he finished third in the World Hurdle on At Fishers Cross; emphatic winner More of That was another McCoy had rejected - on both occasions Barry Geraghty was the fortunate beneficiary.

Geraghty was aboard market leader and clear form choice Bobs Worth in Friday's Gold Cup but the race went the way of Lord Windermere (20/1) who held On His Own (16/1) a short head at the line with The Giant Bolster (14/1) threequarters of a length adrift in third.

Dr Richard Newland doesn't train for a living but that fact didn't stop his Pineau De Re coming home five lengths clear in the Aintree Grand National at odds of 25/1; Peter Bowen's Al Co (40/1) claimed the Scottish version while Richard Lee recorded a win for the home side with Mountainous in the Welsh version.

Daryl Jacob experienced mixed fortunes as Paul Nicholls' stable jockey; eyebrows were raised when he knocked back the ride on the legend Big Buck's...

Distraught at being beaten a nose by Richard Johnson in the Pertemps Network Final at the Festival, the next day Jacob rode Lac Fontana to victory in the County Hurdle but before the very next race suffered horrific injuries when Port Mellon spooked, broke through a rail and dumped him on a concrete hard-standing.

In stark contrast Sam Twiston-Davies recorded a total of 115 winners and saw his stock rise in meteoric fashion; he has just been appointed Paul Nicholls' stable jockey while Jacob has chosen to go freelance.

Finally a word for Jason Maguire who finished third in the jockeys' championship (130 winners) despite missing the final six weeks of the season after suffering life-threatening injuries in a fall from Scots Gaelic at Stratford on the eve of the Festival.

As trainer Donald McCain pointed out - it puts it all into perspective, doesn't it?

The 2012/13 jumps season - a personal view

Champion jockey: A P McCoy
Champion trainer: Nicky Henderson
Winning owner: J P McManus
Leading conditional rider: Lucy Alexander


2012 was the second wettest year on record and all that rain left an indelible mark on the season.

From late summer onwards, the layers had Nicky Henderson long odds-on to take the trainers' title from Paul Nicholls but the Ditcheat handler clocked some notable victories in the autumn including the Paddy Power Gold Cup with Al Ferof and the Paul Stewart Ironspine Charity Challenge Gold Cup with Unioniste.

Al Ferof gave Walkon 16 lbs and a three length beating and was 5/1 for the King George at Kempton before sustaining an injury that wrote his season off. The legendary Big Buck's suffered a similar fate after winning in a common canter on his seasonal debut at Newbury.

Unioniste's Cheltenham victory, beating the hapless Walkon 11 lengths, was all the more remarkable as the horse was just four years old; some may have thought his subsequent defeat in the RSA Chase at the Festival a disappointment but the gelding is likely to strengthen up over the coming summer.

The season's headline horse was Henderson's Sprinter Sacre, described by Simon Holt as 'a steeplecahser from the gods' and that's exactly what he is. He beat Sizing Europe 19 lengths in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, a trip of two miles, and is quoted as short as 6/4 by William Hill for the next running of the King George, run over a trip of three miles.

If Sprinter Sacre was Henderson's headline horse, stablemate Bobs Worth wasn't far behind. The gelding won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in December and then added the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the spring, making ground from an unpromising position four out to win going away and maintaining his unbeaten track record in the process.

Hurricane Fly reclaimed the Champion Hurdle and no doubt intends to return next year but two other Festival performances stick in the mind - Liam Treadwell's front-running ride on 50/1 winner Carrickboy in the Byrne Group Plate and Oscar Delta's unseating of amateur Jane Mangan with the CGA Foxhunter Chase apparently at his mercy.

The BBC boasts a long distinguished history in the coverage of televised horse racing; the Corporation was due to bring that coverage to a conclusion with Chepstow's Welsh National meeting but the wet weather put paid to those plans.

Ironically Channel Four's re-vamped racing offering, handled by production company IMG Sports Media, covered the re-arranged card nine days later but those expecting to see the much-advertised Clare Balding on their screens were to be disappointed; apparently Ms Balding's contract covers just 88 days of the racing year...

Two weeks later, in an article in the Racing Post, Carl Hicks, the man at the helm of Channel Four's coverage, gave himself a rather generous-looking seven out of ten to date despite some initial technical mishaps. The station's televising of the Grand National didn't do much to boost the mark in my humble opinion but that proved of little consequence as racing was busy breathing a huge sigh of relief as all participants, both equine and human, came home safe and sound.

Ryan Mania's victory in the Aintree showpiece on the unconsidered Auroras Encore, a 66/1 chance, was manna from heaven for the media. On the very next day on his very next ride Mania was unfortunate to suffer neck and back injuries when falling from Stagecoach Jasper at Hexham; he was flown by air ambulance to hospital in Newcastle and the modest jockey's fame increased a further tenfold.

This year blog horse of the year goes to Countrywide Flame who took Newcastle's Fighting Fifth in a common canter and ran exceptionally well at odds of 16/1 to finish third in the Champion Hurdle.

I made it to the track just once this season - Warwick's Classic Chase day in mid January. The thing I remember most about the meeting was John Craven appearing particularly animated after Ely Brown's victory at odds of 12/1 in the three mile handicap hurdle. The inference in that last comment is that my own selections ran particularly poorly...

Finally, to conclude the review, a word for Lucy Alexander. Alexander rode 38 winners and in doing so became the first woman as well as the first Scot to win the Conditional Jockeys' Championship. Aged just 22 she is already the most successful female NH jockey of all time - well done Lucy!

The 2011/12 jumps season - a personal review

In a nutshell...

Champion jockey: A P McCoy
Winning trainer: Paul Nicholls
Winning owner: J P McManus
Leading conditional: Henry Brooke

In November Kauto Star reversed the previous season's Gold Cup form with Long Run to take Haydock's Betfair Chase and then confirmed that was no fluke by winning Kempton's King George VI Chase for a record fifth time. The 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup was built up to be the big showdown between the pair but a schooling fall in late February put the Star's participation in doubt; in the event Kauto made it to the track but jockey Ruby Walsh pulled him up after the ninth. Those who then thought the Gold Cup was something of a formality were to be proven wrong as Synchronised stayed on up the hill to beat outsider The Giant Bolster two and a quarter lengths, with 7/4 favourite Long Run a further three quarters of a length behind in third. Long Run never quite hit the heights of the previous year.

After last year's race many in the sport looked with trepidation to this year's running of the Aintree Grand National and those fears proved well founded with According To Pete fatally injured in a fall at Becher's and Gold Cup winner Synchronised breaking a hind leg while running loose after his fall at the same fence. Neptune Collonges (33/1) pipped Sunnyhillboy (20/1) a nose in the closest finish in the history of the race; Paul Nicholls' charge followed The Lamb and Nicolaus Silver to become the third grey to win and was promptly retired afterwards.

Team Ditcheat took the Champion Hurdle with Rock On Ruby and Big Buck's won a fourth consecutive World Hurdle before going to Aintree to record his 17th consecutive victory in the Liverpoool Hurdle, beating Sir Ken's record which had stood for some 60 years. However many of the Nicholls runners were under a cloud at Cheltenham and it was Nicky Henderson who turned out to be man in form, recording a four-timer on the Wednesday with Simonsig (2/1f), Bobs Worth (9/2), Finians Rainbow (4/1) and Une Artiste (40/1). The one everyone is talking about though is Sprinter Sacre who won the Arkle in stunning fashion.

Malcolm Jefferson's feat in training two horses, Cape Tribulation and Attaglance, to win at the Cheltenham Festival and then at Aintree four weeks later is worthy of a mention in any review of the season.

Yet again Richard Johnson finished second in the jockeys' championship but that spot would surely have gone to Jason Maguire had he not broken a bone in the back of his neck at the end of August which kept him off the track until mid-November. Donald McCain has emerged as the top trainer in the north.

The whip debate generated plenty of discussion throughout the entire season but back at the end of November a bay gelding called Hunt Ball won a Class 5 handicap chase at Folkestone off a mark of 68. After winning five of his next six races, he went to the Festival to contest the Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase off a mark of 142. Keiran Burke's charge obliged at odds of 13/2 and reportedly landed owner Anthony Nott over £500,000 in winning wagers.

Blog selections went through a (pretty short-lived) purple patch earlier in the season, Carruthers winning the Hennessy (advised each-way @ 20/1), West End Rocker the Becher (advised each-way @ 14/1) and Le Beau Bai the Welsh National (advised each-way @10/1); needless to say, normal service resumed after the Christmas festivities... Blog horse of the year goes to Overturn who won Ascot's Coral Hurdle (advised @ 3/1) and one week later the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle(advised @ 7/2). The temptation to go to the well on his next two outings was resisted but he was put up as each-way value at 33/1 for the Champion Hurdle where he ran a fine race from the front to finish second.

Perhaps those who backed the losing selections may forgive a little if I point them in the direction of The Queen's Arms, Kensington (listed in Time Out's 50 best pubs in London), the next time they're in the capital with a fancy for a glass of beer...

I only managed three trips to the track but that's better than in recent years - Ludlow in October, Warwick in January and the Wednesday of the Cheltenham Festival; Ludlow still rates as one of my favourite tracks.

Wetherby were due to stage the first race of the new season but the meeting was abandoned - course waterlogged! So, it was Sam Twiston-Davies who won the first race of the new season, the Ludlow
Golf Club Claiming Hurdle, on a horse called Bin End. Sam went on to complete a double on the day, as did one A.P. McCoy.

Plus ca change...

Summary report 2010/11 season

Having just returned from a short Easter break, here's a rather short summary of the 2010/11 National Hunt season...

Champion jockey: Tony McCoy - 218 winners
Winning trainer: Paul Nicholls - £2,424,059
Winning owner: Trevor Hemmings
Champion conditional jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies - 59 winners
Horse of the Year: Big Buck's

Early in November Ruby Walsh suffered a broken leg in a fall from Corrick Bridge that meant the Irishman missed most of the 'core' season; he returned just in time to take the Thomas Pink Leading Rider Award for Cheltenham, riding five Festival winners.  The inclement weather of the depths of winter resulted in many trainers chosing to send their charges to Cheltenham without a preparatory run. That policy didn't appear particularly successful - Cue Card and Time For Rupert were two high profile disappointments. Nicky Henderson suffered the embarrassment of having to withdraw Binocular from this year's Champion Hurdle as the horse continued to test positive for a banned substance that had been previously administered for an allergy; privately the British Horseracing Authority admitted to having concerns about the standard of record-keeping at Henderson's Seven Barrows establishment. The trainer then appeared to be enduring something of a nightmare Festival, drawing a blank on the first three days, but on Friday he sent out Bobs Worth to win the Albert Bartlett and 40 minutes later Long Run to win the Gold Cup. Long Run's victory, with amateur Sam Waley-Cohen up, marked a changing of the guard but events in this year's National - two fatalities and winning rider Jason Maguire banned for misuse of the whip - have overshadowed the sport in recent weeks. The whip debate continues unabated  - Cornelius Lysaght writing in yesterday's Guardian states that doing nothing is now the only option that can be sensibly dismissed.    

Finally, after some deliberate deliberation, I awarded Blog Horse of the Year to Nacarat who was tipped twice and won on both occasions - Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase (6/1) in November and Aintree's Betfair Bowl (7/2).

End of term report 2009/10

In my opinion this has been a very good National Hunt season taking into account the inclement weather during the winter, but in yesterday's Independent Chris McGrath could see only the same familiar problems.

A number of snapshots will stay with me for some time to come - Denman's phenomenal weight-carrying performance in the Hennessy, Kauto Star's victory in the King George, that same horse falling in the Gold Cup, Barizan's brave attempt to win the Triumph from the front, King John's Castle refusing to budge an inch at the start of the Grand National and Tony McCoy's first victory in that race at the fifteenth time of asking.

McCoy will think fifteen is his lucky number as he took the champion jockey award for the fifteenth consecutive year; Paul Nicholls was champion trainer for the fifth consecutive year. As anyone who has read Nicholls' autobiography Lucky Break will know, there was a time when he thought he'd never overturn Martin Pipe; at Sandown on Saturday the handler hinted next season's title could be a close run affair as Nicky Henderson builds up a strong string at Seven Barrows.

Rhys Flint was champion conditional while it was a season of stark contrasts for two Sams - Sam Twiston-Davies and Sam Thomas. The former, at the tender age of seventeen, made all on Baby Run to take the Christie's Foxhunter at Cheltenham, just half an hour after his father had sent out Imperial Commander to win the Gold Cup. Three weeks later Hello Bud gave the youngster the thrill of a lifetime in the National, racing with the leaders for much of the way before fading to finish fifth; in the final week of the season Mr Sam Twiston-Davies turned professional. On the other hand Sam Thomas, in his first season as Tom George's stable jockey, suffered a hairline fracture of his back in a schooling accident on Paul Nicholls' gallops; back riding now, he'll be looking forward to a fresh start. Lest we forget, this horse-riding stuff is a dangerous business - Melanie Reid's poignant article in Saturday's Times highlighted the point in no uncertain terms.

One trainer and one jockey both passed the 100 winner mark in the final week of the season, David Pipe reaching the landmark on the final Saturday while jockey Jason Maguire achieved his goal at Perth in midweek. Many of Jason's winners were provided by Donald McCain, a trainer who has made significant progress this year. His stable star Peddlers Cross is nominated 'Blog Horse of the Year' - tipped twice, the bay gelding won on both occasions (including the Neptune at Cheltenham) at odds of 11/8 and 7/1. Cue Card (40/1 Festival bumper winner) was considered but as that one was only mentioned in dispatches and wasn't one of the blog's highlighted selections, Peddlers Cross is declared the winner by a short head. Albertas Run won the BHA's (rather more prestigious) Order Of Merit.

Tony McCoy rode the first winner of the new season, Marodima taking the Ludlow Golf Club Claiming Hurdle at odds of 1/7. Some things never change... On the other hand, some things do - the following courses are offering free entry to racing this week as part of the Racing For Change initiative:

Monday 26 April: Towcester and Wolverhampton
Tuesday 27 April: Sedgefield and Nottingham
Wednesday 28 April: Kempton and Ascot
Thursday 29 April: Huntingdon
Friday 30 April: Doncaster
Saturday 1st May: Goodwood (apparently sold out!)

As always, check details with individual courses beforehand.

And if this season just past hasn't been one of the best for you personally, always remember, as my dear old Mum used to say, there's likely to be someone worse off than yourself. Spare a thought for the Royal Mail van driver Cemal Celikkanat who discovered last week he had thrown away a winning £100,000 lottery ticket...

End of term report 2008/9

For me personally this was a better season than last - opposing Katchit in his early races paid dividends, as did backing Kauto Star for the Gold Cup prior to Denman's reappearance. That Gold Cup victory was a highlight, as was Punjabi hanging on to take the Champion Hurdle. My mother-in-law backed 100/1 shot Mon Mome to win the National - the horse duly obliged and looked as though he had enough left in the tank to complete another circuit. I managed to regain some small semblance of credibility by putting up Hello Bud for the Scottish National two weeks later.

Paul Nicholls won champion trainer for the fourth consecutive time but he has some way to go to catch the phenomenal Tony McCoy who won his fourteenth consecutive champion jockey award. McCoy performed another of his routine miracles on the final Saturday by getting Hennessy to the front right on the line, clinching Sandown's Bet365 Gold Cup in the process. Earlier, on a wet February Monday afternoon at Plumpton, the champ became the first jump jockey to ride 3,000 winners. J P McManus was champion owner while Aidan Coleman was champion conditional jockey.

Two riders who will have different views on this season are Sam Thomas and Liam Treadwell. On consecutive Saturdays in November Sam Thomas fell at the last in the day's feature race - from Kauto Star in Haydock's Betfair Chase and then from Big Buck's in the Hennessy. The pressure mounted after his exit from the latter and he lost the ride on Master Minded to one A P McCoy. It's an ill wind though - thereafter Big Buck's reverted to the smaller obstacles and went on to collect the World Hurdle and the John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle. Liam Treadwell was relatively unknown until he partnered Mon Mome to victory in the Grand National. Immediately after the race Clare Balding unwittingly added to his instant celebrity by making him show his less-than-perfect gnashers to a watching nation; the BBC received 1477 complaints from viewers. It's an ill wind though - since that interview Liam has been approached by at least two dental practioners offering their services completely free of charge.

There are three contenders in the frame for the title of 'Blog Horse of the Year' - Kauto Star, Punjabi and Hello Bud - I have to give it to Punjabi who was tipped just the once and obliged at 22/1.

In case you blinked, the new season is already under way - Richard Johnson got off to a flyer by riding Treaty Flyer to victory in the Ludlow Golf Club Claiming Hurdle.

Jumps season review 2007/8

This hasn't been the most successful of seasons for me personally and, worse still, I haven't managed to get to a meeting since Aintree last October. The biggest disappointment had to be the abandonment of the Wednesday card at the Cheltenham Festival on account of high winds.

Some things never seem to change - Tony McCoy was champion jockey and Paul Nicholls champion trainer; Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins took the equivalent honours in Ireland. David Johnson was top owner.

This was Denman's season, although he never carried any of my money. His performance in the Hennessy was exceptional, as was his Gold Cup victory. Master Minded's performance in the Champion Chase will live long in the memory. Kauto Star won the Order Of Merit after a prolonged duel with Lough Derg.

Last year Katchit was nominated blog horse of the year. Although I didn't tip him as often this season, I was tempted to nominate him again following his tenacious victory in the Champion Hurdle. Instead, I'm going to nominate Reg Hollinshead's Norma Hill. Back in August I tipped the mare and she duly obliged at 20/1 - we haven't seen her out since.

The New Year started well enough; I took 14/1 offered by Betfred about Hills Of Aran at Cheltenham and Keith Goldsworthy's gelding did the necessary. It proved a false dawn and the beginning of a downhill slope, with too many losers, particularly around February / March time.

The Grand National tips were a little nearer the mark with three of the four selections finishing in the first five home.

The focus shifts to the Flat now, with the Guineas taking centre stage at Newmarket next weekend.