Congratulations to...
Footpad
who notched four wins and earned 286.6 points in the process - over 100 more than its nearest rival.
A single pick for Tony, Footpad didn't look an obvious choice after following round the likes of Petit Mouchoir, Buveur D'Air and Unowhatimeanharry over hurdles the previous season.
Willie Mullins' charge was ready for the bigger obstacles though and Footpad, under Daryl Jacob, clocked up a facile win at odds on at Navan just before our competition started.
The first scoring effort was at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Odds on again and with Paul Townend in the saddle this time. 78 points were landed with the Editor noting "led before 3 out, went on approaching straight, stayed on well from before last, winning impressively by 13l".
Footpad was back out at Leopardstown at the start of February for the Irish Arkle and landed a comfortable odds on win against old rival Petit Mouchoir among others despite "a slight mistake at the last". That was another 70+ points haul for Tony.
It was on to Cheltenham next, Ruby Walsh with the ride this time in the Arkle. The Editor had yet to be completely convinced of Footpad's claims, tipping up Petit Mouchoir. Perhaps if that horse hadn't set off at breakneck pace with Saint Calvados then Footpad might have found it more difficult. In the end Walsh picked off those tiring horses and took command from the last bend cruising to a 14-length win over Brain Power and earning another big points haul for Tony.
There was one more outing for Footpad - at Punchestown this time in the Ryanair Novice Chase. Daryl Jacob steered the 2/5 shot to a 12-length win and a perfect season.
The top three...
286.6 - Footpad (78 + 77.6 + 78.4 + 52.4)
169.8 - Buveur D'Air (51.1 + 51.1 + 16.1 + 51.5)
140.6 - Next Destination (34 + 52.8 + 53.8)
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