2018 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Alpha Centauri 

We'll have to ask the Editor what he saw in Alpha Centauri to make her a single pick in his title-winning team. There were two 6f wins at Naas in May 2017 but the filly was turned over as a short-price favourite in her other two outings that year.

There was no joy in her first run of the season either, finishing 10th of 13 over 7f at Leopardstown. That was on heavy ground though and Jessica Harrington's star was a different prospect over a mile on better ground.

Alpha Centauri's first win of the year was in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Sent off at 12/1 after that run of defeats Colm O'Donoghue timed her run to collar the Aiden O'Brien pacemaker Could It Be Love in the final 100 yards to take the spoils.

The next target was the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. The bookies took no chances this time and sent her off as the 11/4 favourite. She won like one too. Shaken up at the furlong pole she came home a six-length winner with the English and French Guineas winners well beaten.

Three weeks later Alpha Centauri was odds on for the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and was an easy four and a half length winner. Next stop was Deauville in August for the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois. She was taking on a mixed age and sex field but still an odds on shot and only had to be kept up to her work in the final furlong to see off Olivier Peslier's previous Group One winner Recoletos.

Now a winner of over £1m Alpha Centauri was expected to take another winner's purse in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in mid-September. It wasn't to be. Denied by another excellent filly in Laurens, Alpha Centauri was found to be clinically abnormal after the race. The announcement soon came that she'd chipped a joint in her right front fetlock and would be retired.

O'Donoghue said: "She was the leading three-year-old all year. She was an incredible filly. She didn't just beat them, she annihilated them."


The top three were:

264.6 - Alpha Centauri (75.8 + 82.4 + 52.6 + 53.8)
233.8 - Roaring Lion (23.8 + 52.4 + 53.6 + 51.6 + 52.4)
205.8 - Kew Gardens (68.2 + 54.8 + 82.8)

How we did

A note on numbers first.

During the period we have accurate stats for there have mostly been eight punters, apart from 2012/13, 2014-2016 inclusive and 2017 (nine), and 2016/17 (ten). Since 2021/22 there have been seven.

The flat season runs from 2000 Guineas day to Champions day. The 2020 season started on 1 June because of the coronavirus crisis.

The jumps season runs from the Friday of Cheltenham's November meeting to the end of Sandown's Finale meeting. In 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2022/23 it included the Punchestown Festival. In 2014/15 it finished after Punchestown. Up to 2013/14 it finished after the Grand National meeting.

Collectively first ...

Jumps

2024/25 - 88 winners (54 single picks - 61%) - 288 runners, strike rate 30.06%

2023/24 - 83 winners (51 single picks - 61%)

2022/23 - 87 winners (60 single picks - 69%)

2021/22 - 95 winners (58 single picks - 61%)

2020/21 - 98 winners (62 single picks - 63%)

2019/20 - 69 winners (40 single picks - 58%)*
2018/19 - 74 winners (43 single picks - 58%)
2017/18 - 73 winners (35 single picks - 48%)
2016/17 - 119 winners (72 single picks - 61%)
2015/16 - 86 winners (47 single picks - 55%)
2014/15 - 71 winners (30 single picks - 42%)
2013/14 - 64 winners (32 single picks- 50%)
2012/13 - 70 winners (18 single picks - 26%)

Flat

2024 - 71 winners (53 single picks - 75%)

2023 - 66 winners (46 single picks - 70%)

2022 - 63 winners (37 single picks - 59%)

2021 - 69 winners (55 single picks - 80%)

2020 - 77 winners (43 single picks - 56%)*

2019 - 95 winners (63 single picks - 66%)
2018 - 83 winners (55 single picks - 66%)
2017 - 69 winners (22 single picks - 32%)
2016 - 73 winners (40 single picks - 55%)
2015 - 86 winners (61 single picks - 71%)
2014 - 86 winners (57 single picks - 66%)
2013 - 55 winners (28 single picks - 51%)

* Season shortened due to coronavirus

And individually? The season results are in the finishing order of the competition.

Running total - Overall

Cliff - 500 (233 Flat, 267 Jumps)

Peej - 493 (171 Flat, 322 Jumps)

Bob - 486 (207 Flat, 279 Jumps)

Steve - 485 (188 Flat, 297 Jumps)

Neil - 478 (223 Flat, 255 Jumps)
Martin - 439 (191 Flat, 248 Jumps)
Cod - 385 (147 Flat, 238 Jumps)

Tony - 370 (173 Flat, 197 Jumps)

Lee - 104 (55 Flat, 49 Jumps)
Micky - 30 (30 Jumps)
John - 26 (26 Jumps)

Running total - Single picks - not including reserved rights

Neil - 169 (80 Flat, 89 Jumps)

Peej - 160 (76 Flat,  84 Jumps)

Bob - 152 (72 Flat,  80 Jumps)

Cod - 145 (70 Flat, 75 Jumps)

Cliff -  140 (65 Flat, 75 Jumps)

Martin - 137 (70 Flat,  67 Jumps)

Steve - 118 (51 Flat,  67 Jumps)

Tony - 92 (52 Flat, 40 Jumps)

Lee - 35 ( 22 Flat, 13 Jumps)
Micky - 12 (all Jumps)


Winners by season (single picks in brackets - not including reserved rights)

2025

Steve - 26 (9)

Bob - 24 (11)

Neil - 24 (8)

Cliff - 21 (6)

Peej - 23 (10)

Martin - 15 (6)

Cod - 14 (4)

2024

Neil - 23 (8)

Cliff - 18 (7)

Cod - 14 (8)

Peej - 16 (10)

Steve - 14 (6)

Martin - 14 (8)

Bob - 11 (6)

2023/24

Peej - 24 (9)

Steve - 27 (10)

Bob - 18 (9)

Cliff - 18 (7)

Martin - 22 (7)

Neil - 16 (2)

Cod - 15 (7)

2023

Bob - 21 (10)

Cliff - 20 (10)

Neil - 20 (8)

Martin - 13 (2)

Steve - 13 (4)

Cod - 11 (8)

Peej - 10 (4)

2022/23

Peej - 27 (13)

Neil - 25 (11)

Steve - 24 (5)

Bob - 21 (8)

Martin - 18 (6)

Cod - 17 (11)

Cliff - 14 (6)

2022

Neil - 19 (8)

Peej - 20 (8)

Bob - 19 (2)

Steve - 17 (5)

Cliff - 16 (1)

Martin - 17 (7)

Cod - 6 (6)

2021/22

Peej - 31 (13)                      

Steve - 29 (1)    

Cliff - 20 (9)

Cod - 19 (12)      

Bob - 26 (11)            

Neil - 16 (7) 

Martin - 12 (5)         

2021

Steve - 15 (5)

Tony - 14 (9)

Martin - 15 (8)

Cod - 13 (11)

Cliff - 13 (5)

Neil - 12 (4)

Bob - 12 (9)

Peej - 5 (4)

2020/21

Cliff - 23 (10)

Cod - 25 (10)

Peej - 27 (8)

Neil - 21 (8)

Tony -  22 (4)

Steve - 20 (4)

Martin - 19 (10)

Bob - 12 (8)

2020

Cliff - 22 (5)

Tony -  20 (8)

Bob - 17 (9)

Steve - 15 (4)

Neil - 17 (5)

Martin - 19 (7)

Peej - 11 (1)

Cod - 7 (4)

2019/20

Steve - 16 (4)
Tony - 20 (2)
Peej - 17 (5)
Cliff - 18 (8)
Bob - 17 (7)
Martin - 17 (6)
Neil - 14 (6)
Cod - 15 (2)

2019

Neil - 31 (14)
Tony - 28 (6)
Cliff - 24 (9)
Steve - 23 (4)
Martin - 18 (6)
Bob - 18 (5)
Cod - 15 (8)
Peej - 16 (11)

2018/19

Peej - 24 (7)
Bob - 27 (9)
Cod - 20 (9)
Steve - 23 (3)
Cliff - 21 (3)
Martin - 15 (4)
Tony - 15 (1)
Neil - 14 (7)

2018

Cliff - 23 (11)
Neil - 24 (8)
Steve - 24 (6)
Tony - 22 (9)
Peej - 13 (9)
Bob - 11 (1)
Martin - 13 (8)
Cod - 6 (3)

2017/18

Steve - 24 (6)
Tony - 21 (9)
Martin - 23 (6)
Cliff - 28 (5)
Peej - 28 (3)
Neil - 17 (2)
Cod - 14 (2)
Bob - 16 (2)

2017

Martin - 26 (0)
Cliff - 20 (1)
Neil - 17 (6)
Steve - 15 (2)
Lee - 17 (3)
Bob - 21 (2)
Peej - 13 (2)
Tony - 21 (2)
Cod - 7 (2)

2016/17

Lee - 39 (2)
Micky - 30  (12)
Martin - 38 (10)
Steve - 36 (12)
Peej - 34 (5)
Tony - 23 (10)
Neil - 24 (9)
Cod - 28 (4)
Cliff - 25 (6)
Bob - 30 (2)

2016

Bob - 20 (7)
Tony - 16 (4)
Neil - 19 (4)
Cliff - 17 (1)
Cod - 16 (3)
Lee - 20 (7)
Peej - 16 (5)
Martin - 16 (7)
Steve - 10 (2)

2015/16

Neil - 25 (13)
Lee - 28 (6)
Cliff - 21 (5)
Tony - 23 (2)
Bob - 27 (6)
Peej - 20 (5)
Cod - 17 (7)
Martin - 16 (2)
Steve - 17 (1)

2015

Cliff - 24 (4)
Bob - 23 (10)
Peej - 20 (15)
Tony - 18 (3)
Cod - 17 (10)
Neil - 12 (7)
Lee - 11 (2)
Martin - 12 (8)
Steve - 10 (2)

2014/15

Tony - 25 (5)
Cliff - 25 (3)
Lee - 21 (5)
Cod - 20 (3)
Peej - 21 (1)
Martin - 15 (3)
Bob - 18 (2)
Neil - 15 (3)
Steve - 14 (5)

2014

Lee - 24 (10)
Tony - 24 (10)
Cod - 21 (5)
Bob - 22 (7)
Steve - 17 (6)
Neil - 19 (5)
Cliff - 18 (5)
Peej - 16 (3)
Martin - 13 (6)

2013/14

Peej - 25 (5)
Tony - 22 (4)
Neil - 16 (7)
Steve - 15 (7)
Cod - 16 (3)
Martin - 16 (2)
Bob - 15 (1)
Cliff - 14 (3)

2013

Martin - 15 (3)
Cliff - 18 (6)
Steve - 15 (5)
Peej - 15 (4)
Cod - 14 (2)
Neil - 10 (3)
Tony - 10 (1)
Bob - 12 (4)

2012/13

Neil - 28 (6)
John - 26 (0)
Bob - 28 (4)
Tony - 26 (3)
Steve - 26 (0)
Martin - 22 (0)
Peej - 21 (0)
Cod - 18 (1)
Cliff - 19 (4)

2018 Flat Issue 25 - Plenty of action on the final day

Headlines

Stradavarius lands Long Distance Cup

Sands of Mali stars in Sprint

Lion Roars home in QEII

Cracksman hits Bullseye in Champion Stakes

Report

At Ascot on Saturday in the 2m group 2 Long Distance Cup, Stradavarius ( Neil, Steve Tony), took his chance, Shade keen tracking leading pair on inside, went through gap on rail into 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, soon edged left, edged right inside final furlong, stayed on well, winning by 1 ½ l . He gets 21.7 points.

In the 6f Group 1 Champion Sprint Stakes, Sands of Mali ( Cliff), took his chance, Sweating, quickly away, made all, ridden and in command when edged right inside final furlong, ran on strongly, winning  unchallenged by 1l. He gets 117.2 points

In the 1m Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II stakes, Roaring Lion ( Neil, Steve), I Can Fly (Tony), went to post. Roaring Lion, Held up in mid-division on near side of group, headway 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead final 100 yards, ran on, winning by a neck. He gets 52.4 points.

I Can Fly, Held up in mid-division, pushed along and headway between horses 2f out, went 2nd close home, not reach winner, 2^ND beaten a neck . He gets 24 points.

In the 1m 2f Group 1 Champion Stakes, Cracksman ( Bob, Cliff, Steve, Tony), Crystal Ocean ( Martin), went to post.

Cracksman, Tracked leading trio and pushed along at times, rapid move on outside to lead over 2f out and sent for home, ridden clear over 1f out, stayed on strongly, winning by 6l. He gets 51.7 points.

Crystal Ocean, Tracked leading pair on inside, switched right to inside and outpaced as winner quickened on over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden and kept on same pace over 1f out, no chance with easy winner, 2^nd beaten 6l. He gets 24 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                          Oct                  Total

Cliff                 249.4                 1254.8

Neil                 126.1                    1070.4

Steve                222.4                  928.7

Tony                186.2                    870.1

Peej                108.2                   485.3

Bob                 103.7                     470.5

Martin           24                        431

Cod                00                       246.2

So that’s it for the flat, the Editor claims the crown, Cod the spoon.

2018 Flat Issue 24 - Champions Day will decide our champion

Headlines

Sergi  Stars in Cornwallis Stakes

Limato romps home at Newmarket

Report

We start at Newmarket last Friday where in the 5g group 3 Sergi Prokofiev ( Tony) went to post , steadied start, held up in rear and confidently ridden , not clear run and switched right 2 out, came through field over 1 out, pushed along and ridden , quickend to lead inside last, winning comfortably by 1 1/4l. He gets 36.8 points.

In the 7f group 2 Limato ( Steve), took his chance, broke well, steadied and held up in touch in midfield, closed to press leaders and travelling well 2 out, ridden to lead 1 out, soon asserted and in command inside last, winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 44.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                          Oct                  Total

Cliff                 80.5                 1085.9

Neil                 52                      996.3

Steve                96.6                     802.6

Tony                88.8                    772.7

Peej                108.2                   485.3

Bob                 52                      418.8

Martin           00                           407

Cod                00                       246.2

News

So the Title will be deicided on Champions day. This how they stack up, with Neil having a stronger hand than the The Editor

Neil  1,25 Capri, Stradavarius, Kew Garrdens

2.00 Harry Angel, Librisa Breeze, Speak in Colours

2.40 Coronet,

3.15 Roaring Lion

3.50 Capri, Roaring Lion

Cliff 1.25 Desert Skyline

2.00 Harry Angel, Sands of Mali

3.50 Cracksman

John Gosden has admitted it would be "wonderful" if Enable was kept in training as a five-year-old, with the aim of winning an unprecedented third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.  With the rapidly improving Sea of Class also likely to be kept in training, there could be some mouth watering lashes next season.

2018 Flat Issue 23 - we head into the final furlong on the flat

Headlines

Enable Lands 2^nd Arc Victory

Bruntland wins Prix Chaudenay

No Illusion as Wild lands Opera

Report

We start at Longchamp on Saturday where in the 1m 7f group 2 Bruntland ( Peej), went to post, raced wide early, led after 1f, dictated steady gallop, ridden and edged right , headed over 1 out, rallied to lead close home, winning by ½ l. He gets 42.6 points.

In the 1m 4g Group 1 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe Enable ( Bob, Cliff, Neil, Steve, Tony), took her chance, in touch, tracked leaders, going well 2 out, ridden over 1 out, led and driven final 100 yards, just held on, winning by a short neck. She gets 52 points.

In the 1m 2 f fillies and mares group 1 Prix De L’Opera, Wild Illusion ( Cliff, Peej), took her chance, in touch in mid field, good headway approaching 2 out, ridden to lead over 1 out, ridden and kept on well , winning by 1l. She gets 28.5 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                          Oct                  Total

Cliff                 80.5                 1085.9

Neil                 52                      996.3

Steve                52                      758

Tony                52                        735.9

Peej                108.2                   485.3

Bob                 52                      418.8

Martin           00                           407

Cod                00                       246.2

News

John Gosden has admitted it would be "wonderful" if Enable was kept in training as a five-year-old, with the aim of winning an unprecedented third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.  With the rapidly improving Sea of Class also likely to be kept in training, there could be some mouth watering lashes next season.

2018 Flat Issue 22 - Big weekend in France coming up

Headlines

Gardens in Full Bloom at Newmarket

May is Golden at Nottigham

Ptarmigan Ridge wins at Chester

Report

We start at Newmarket on Friday where in the 1m 4f fillies and mares group 3, High Garden ( Martin) took her chance, held up in touch, ridden over 3 out, headway to press leaders and edged right 2 out, driven and every chance 1 out, stayed on well to lead last strides, winning by a head. She gets 51 points.

At Chester on Saturday in the 7f handicap Ptarmigan Ridge ( Peej), went to post, prominent, headway into 2^nd going well 2 out, led over 1 out, eased clear inside final furlong, winning easily by ¾ l. He gets 42.6 points.

At Nottingham yesterday in the 5f handicap Maygold ( Peej), went to post, Mid-division, headway over 2f out, kept on to lead towards finish, winning by ¾ l. She gets 39.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        September  Oct        Total

Cliff                 28.5                         1005.4

Neil                 218.7                       944.3

Steve                112.2                     706

Tony                105.1                      683.9

Peej                123.4       39.8         416.9

Martin           80.5                           407

Bob                 28.5                         366.8

Cod                121                            246.2

Congratulations to Neil who is trainer of the month

News

Connections of Roaring Lion would relish a "potentially explosive" clash with stablemate Cracksman in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot. Cracksman looks likely to either take on another John Gosden-trained superstar in this weekend's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, or meet Roaring Lion on Qipco British Champions Day on October 20.David Redvers, racing manager for Roaring Lion's owners Qatar Racing, said: "Roaring Lion has the most remarkable constitution. He was charging around the place and wanting more a few days after his win at Leopardstown, which is quite something when you think of the amount of racing he's had - and that he had a pretty tough race."On the prospect of meeting Cracksman, he added: "He's last year's champion - and while it's not been plain sailing for him this year, it's coming to his time of the year."To see those two square up would be fascinating, potentially explosive. It's what British Champions Day is all about, and what it is there for."

Ghaiyyath is to spend the winter in Dubai after connections decided not to run the one-time Classic hope again this season.

Another old favourite and star of these columns has passed away, Edredon Bleu, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase and King George VI Chase, has died at the age of 26.

Trained by Henrietta Knight and owned by Jim Lewis, the French-bred gelding came out on top in an unforgettable renewal of the two-mile championship at Cheltenham in 2000, when he defeated Direct Route by a short head. Edredon Bleu showed his versatility - as well as his undoubted ability - when lifting Kempton's Boxing Day showpiece over three miles in 2003. He was retired in 2005 after a 10-year career and spent his leisurely days with former jockey Graham Thorner at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage.

"I'm sad in a way, but delighted in another that he had such a great life," Lewis, whose triple Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate was racing at the same time, told Press Association Sport."He was well looked after with loving care by Graham Thorner and his entire family and he had a wonderful retirement."Without question he was the most spectacular jumper you'd ever see at Cheltenham. He holds the record for the fastest two-mile chase there and he goes to his maker with glory."He gave us a lot of thrills and some wonderful times."Edredon Bleu won 25 races, including the 2003 Clonmel Oil Chase, successive Haldon Gold Cups in 2002 and 2003 and the Peterborough Chase four years in a row from 1998-2001, amassing a total of £731,000 in prize money.