2019/20 Boozy Punter Horses of the Season

Congratulations to...

Defi Du Seuil and Honeysuckle

Our truncated season meant we couldn't split the two leaders in our points-scoring system.

Despite winning three races the previous season, including the JLT, and earning almost 200 points as a single pick for Bob, only three punters (Bob, Peej and Steve) went for Defi this time round.

Defi started the season with a win  as 11/8F in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November by a length and a quarter over Politilogue. Three weeks later Barry Geraghty piloted the 2/1 favourite to Tingle Creek glory by a neck in duel with Un De Sceaux.

Those two rivals went at it again at Ascot in January and Defi repeated the result, the distance extended to two and three-quarter lengths.

So it was all the more surprising when Philip Hobbs' seven year-old was well beaten in the Champion Chase behind Politilogue who had been a beaten rival twice before this season. Called to the stewards room after the race Hobbs could offer no explanation for the poor performance of the 2/5 favourite while Geraghty reported that the gelding was "never travelling".

Honeysuckle hadn't been picked in 2018/19 but went through the season unbeaten with three wins at Fairyhouse and one at Thurles, all under Rachael Blackmore. That was enough for Cliff and Tony to add the mare to their strings for 2019/20.

This season started with two more Fairyhouse wins. The first was in November with an easy 11-length win at 30/100F. Henry De Bromhead's star was back the following month to win the Hatton's Grace - 9 lengths the margin this time with Bacardys and Apple's Jade among the beaten horses.

After two months off Honeysuckle headed to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Hurdle. This win was much more hard fought, keeping on well after the last to see off Darver Star and Petit Mouchoir.

Although Honeysuckle was vying for Champion Hurdle favouritism, ultimately the Festival target was the Mares' Hurdle. A super ride from Blackmore, taking the inner turning in, saw them get the better of odds on favourite Benie Des Dieux.

Honeysuckle is 3/1 for a  repeat win next year and 16/1 for the Champion Hurdle.

The top three were:

131.0 - Defi Du Seuil (26.8 + 52.4 + 51.8)
131.0 - Honeysuckle (51.6 + 51.5 + 27.9)
123.4 - Shishkin (25.2 + 32.6 + 65.6)