What a race! Golden Ace had been switched from the Mares' Hurdle to try to pick up some place money and ended up scooping the big prize after previous champions Constitution Hill and State Man crashed out at different points in the race. Lorcan Williams guided the mare home to a nine-length win at 25/1 (£36.80 on the Tote) and a huge points haul for Cliff.
Only four of the 11 runners went off at longer odds than the Godolphin-owned chestnut with three all-weather wins at Kempton appearing to be undervalued by all but Bob! William Buick piloted the Charlie Appleby-trained, unbeaten horse to a length and a half victory with a further length and three quarters back to third.
Cod often looks to America for an occasional winner and he often looks to horses with 'Dan' in their name. This time the combination paid dividends. In a big way. Beaten into third in the Arkansas Derby at the end of March Mystik Dan was sent off at 186/10. The horse just got home by a nose in a three-way photo under Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr.
26 December 2023 Kempton, King George VI Chase, Hewick (Cod) 103.4
A retained single pick for Cod that finished last season with a good win in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown, following up a win in the Bet365 Chase the year before. Shark Hanlon's horse also tried to retain the Galway Plate in August but dropped away tamely to finish 14th. The eight-year-old was aimed at the Bocing Day showpiece with hope rather than expectation and went off at 12/1 with a new jockey in the shape of Gavin Sheehan on board. Ridden along from early on (Sheehan might have pulled the horse up on another day) he still had plenty to do three out. Hewick stayed on and finished best of all, taking the lead in the last 100 yds to finish a length and a half ahead of Bravemansgame.
9 December 2023 Sandown, Henry VIII Novices Chase, Le Patron (Cliff) 109.0
A single pick for the Editor which didn't feature in the Punter Profiles section of the handbook so we don't know what the Ed had spotted in a horse last seen being beaten into 11th in a handicap hurdle at Exeter in April. Gary Moore's five-year-old came into the race off the back of two comfortable small-field wins in handicap chases and was the 16/1 outsider of six. David Noonan was in the saddle and after a couple of earlier 'not fluent' efforts got Le Patron jumping well and the horse kept on to deny 2/1 favourite Colonel Harry by a length and a quarter.
4 December 2021 Sandown, Tingle Creek Chase - Greaneteen (Cliff) 101.0
While Greaneteen had ten straight finishes in the top four the odds of 12/1 show this was a bit of a surprise. Second to Politilogue in this race last year was perhaps one piece of form to take notice of but a win in the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April with Champion chaser Put The Kettle On 20 lengths back was perhaps the best clue as to why the Ed picked this Nicholls two-miler. A disappointing seasonal reappearance in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter was put to bed here in emphatic form. After a careful start Bryony Frost put Greaneteen in the mix three out then took over and eventually won going away from stablemate Hitman.
6 February 2021 Sandown, Scilly Isles Novices Chase - Sporting John (Cliff) 105.6
Sporting John had been a decent novice hurdler racking up three straight wins in the 2019/20 season before finishing distressed in seventh-placed finish in 2020's Ballymore at the Festival, well behind winner Envoi Allen. Sent novice chasing this season Sporting John reappeared at Exeter but faded badly in the end, beaten 33 lengths plus by Fiddlerontheroof. Philip Hobbs' six-year-old returned for this race with Richard Johnson on board and 14/1 fifth favourite of seven runners. Held up at the back until three out the horse kept on strongly to win going away (the trainer's representative could offer no explanation for the apparent improvement in form.)
6 October 2019 Longchamp, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Waldgeist (Cod) 103.2
After drawing a blank at three it seemed the older Waldgeist got, the better he got. There were four wins as a four year-old including the Group One Grand Prix de St-Cloud before a fourth place in that year's Arc. Andre Fabre started the horse's five year old campaign with an April victory over Study of Man who'd won the previous year's French Derby. Summer trips to Britain saw defeats to Crystal Ocean and Enable but he had a successful Arc prep on home turf three weeks before the big race. He went off at 131/10 under Pierre-Charles Boudot and was brought late down the outside to catch favourite Enable in the last 50 yards and win by a length and three quarters. In the World's Best Racehorse Rankings of 2019 Waldgeist was rated equal first with Enable and Crystal Ocean. He now stands at Ballylinch Stud at a fee of €17,500.
20 October 2018 Ascot, British Champions Sprint Stakes - Sands of Mali (Cliff) 117.2
Sands of Mali had three wins in the summer as a two year old but flopped in the end of season races at Newmarket and in the Breeders' Cup. Spring 2018 started better with wins at Chantilly and Haydock but for more defeats saw Richard Fahey's horse head into this as a 28/1 longshot. Paul Hanagan made all on the horse and comfortably repelled a challenge from Harry Angel to win by a length. Only finished in the frame once in four runs in 2019.
16 March 2018 Cheltenham, County Handicap Hurdle - Mohaayed (Steve) 127.8
Twice a winner on the flat for Kevin Prendergast, Mohaayed was in his second season with Dan Skelton. Mohaayed had been place twice that winter but hadn't won since a summer match race at Market Rasen at 1/33. Skelton was sweet on the horse for the County Hurdle but rain that week meant he nearly withdrew him. An unfancied 33/1 shot (£63.90 on the Tote!) Bridget Andrews took it up at the last and ran on strongly to win comfortably from 50/1 shot Remiluc. Only top three finish since was a win at Ascot in the Betfair Exchange Trophy in November 2018 but was fancied to go close in the 2020 County Hurdle but finished 10th.
15 March 2018 Cheltenham, Stayers' Hurdle - Penhill (Tony) 102.6
A decent but not spectacular performer on the level for James Bethell and Luca Cumani, Penhill was switched to Willie Mullins for a hurdles campaign. That first year over obstacles saw six wins including the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. Penhill had been off for nearly a year after being beaten at Punchestown so was 12/1 fifth favourite. There were no fitness or stamina problems on show as Paul Townend led between the last two hurdles and won going away from Supasundae. Penhill hasn't won since and pulled up lame in the 2020 edition of the Stayers'.
21 October 2017 Ascot, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - Persuasive (Steve) 117.2
This filly had won five out of five in her two and three year-old seasons until a Group One defeat at Leopardstown. The four year-old campaign had been winless though so was an 8/1 chance for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. Held up at the rear, Frankie made his move three out, led with a furlong to go and soon took command for a length win over favourite Ribchester in what was to be her last race.
16 September 2017 Doncaster, St Leger Stakes - Capri (Neil) 107.8
Kept back following the Irish Derby win (see below) Capri was 3/1 favourite for the race. Ryan Moore took the ride this time and used every ounce's of the horse's stamina to hold off the challenge of Crystal Ocean by half a length with Stradivarius a short head in third. Capri took part in plenty of top races over the next two years but only won once more - The Alleged Stakes at Naas in 2018.
9 September 2017 Leopardstown, Irish Champion Stakes - Decorated Knight (Peej) 153.2
After being off since the previous July Decorated Knight started his 2017 campaign with a win at Lingfield in the Winter Derby Trial. From there to Meydan and a Group One win and defeat over three weeks and on to the Curragh to take the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Summer in the UK brought three defeats so Roger Charlton's horse was sent off at 25/1 at Leopardstown. In last place two furlongs out Andrea Atzeni delivered the horse in the final 100 yards to defeat Poet's Word by half a length. Defeat in the Breeders' Cup and retirement followed and he now stands for €9,000.
1 July 2017 The Curragh, Irish Derby - Capri (Neil) 113.2
Had a solid two year-old campaign but had yet to win at three when taking the start here. Capri was Aiden O'Brien's second string at 6/1 with Derby hero Wings of Eagles the pick of Ryan Moore at 2/1. Seamie Heffernan picked up the ride on Capri and took it up two out. Horse and jockey had just enough to see off Cracksman by a neck and Wings of Eagles a short head further back.
24 June 2017 Ascot, Diamond Jubilee Stakes - The Tin Man (Peej) 110.4
Won the Champions Sprint at Ascot in 2016 but surprisingly was a single pick this year. Opened the season with a fifth place at York behind Tasleet but got the better of that opponent this time. Tom Queally didn't get the clearest of runs but when he got some daylight two out he ran on strongly to defy Tasleet by a neck. Has been a standing dish in the top sprints since with the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock in 2018 the biggest win since.
17 March 2017 Cheltenham, County Handicap Hurdle - Arctic Fire (Tony) 151.8
Another very decent hurdler who had the bad luck to be around at the same time as the likes of Faugheen, Hurricane Fly and Jezki, Arctic Fire had been off the course for more than a year when lining up for the County Hurdle. Giving six pounds and more to the field 20/1 seemed like a fair price. Paul Townend took the ride and brought Arctic Fire wide and over to the stands' side turning in getting in front of 50/1 outsider Ozzie The Oscar in the final 75 yards and denying L'Ami Serge by a neck. Switched stables to Denis Cullen that summer and won two more minor races.
16 March 2017 Cheltenham, Stayers' Hurdle - Nichols Canyon (Tony) 121.6
A three-time winner on the flat for John Gosden, Nichols Canyon switched to Willie Mullins to take up a hurdling career. Nichols Canyon had an excellent novice campaign culminating in a Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle win. Another decent season followed, Annie Power taking the big prizes, but there had only been one, unsuccessful, attempt at three miles before taking on the Stayers at the Festival. It proved a great decision as Ruby Walsh had plenty of horse to stay on and win by three quarters of a length from Lil Rockefeller. Sadly was fatally injured in the 2017 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.
11 February 2017 Newbury, Betfair Hurdle - Ballyandy (Lee) 107.6
The winner of four bumpers, including the Champion Bumper at last year's festival, Ballyandy had yet to break his duck over obstacles. Despite that, the horse was made 3/1 favourite for Nigel Twiston-Davies and son Sam on board. Always in touch, Ballyandy came through to take it up at the last and was driven out to a three-quarter length win over Movewiththetimes. There have been three wins since and an eighth place in the 2020 Champion Hurdle.
29 January 2017 Leopardstown, Irish Champion Hurdle - Petit Mouchoir (Neil) 103.8
As one of Altior's 2016 Supreme Hurdle generation it was always going to be difficult to find winning opportunities. Petit Mouchoir had a gone a year without a first place before winning the Ryan Hurdle at Christmas and was made favourite for this four-runner renewal. Sent off at 9/10F, David Mullins has seen off Nichols Canyon before that rival fell at the last and held on by a length from Footpad. Surprisingly has only one won race since but is still picking up the place money in 2020.
26 November 2016 Newbury, Hennessey Gold Cup - Native River (Micky) 109.2
Already a consistent jumper, Native River stepped up to the top rank with this win at Newbury. Colin Tizzard's chaser was the 7/2 favourite and Richard Johnson earned his riding fee in holding off 25/1 shot Carole's Destrier by half a length. Native River followed up in the Welsh National the following month and the Denman Chase in February before a third in that year's Gold Cup. Won that race in 2018 after a tremendous duel with Might Bite and was fancied for the race again in 2020 before injury curtailed those plans.
2 October 2016 Chantilly, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - Found (Bob) 121.2
Incredibly consistent mare who only finished out of the first three once in a 21 race career, in the previous year's Arc. Found came into the race off the back of five straight second places and was a 6/1 chance for Aiden O'Brien and Ryan Moore. In midfield for much of the race Moore made his move two and a half furlongs out and ran on well to beat Highland Reel by a length and three quarters. Found's career finished after a second at Ascot and a third place in the Breeders Cup Turf behind Highland Reel and Flintshire after stumbling leaving the stalls..
18 Jun 2016 Ascot, Diamond Jubilee Stakes - Twilight Son (Bob) 109.0
Despite winning four of five races in his two and three-year-old careers Twilight Son was a single pick for Bob. The season started with a staying on fifth at York for Henry Candy's sprinter but he'd shown enough to go off 7/2 third favourite Ascot. 25/1 shot Signs of Blessing blazed a trail but Ryan Moore times his run on Twilight Son to perfection, getting up in the last 50 yards. The horse finished down the field on two further runs before retirement, we'll see his first crop of two year-olds in 2020.
26 Dec 2015 Kempton, King George VI Chase - Cue Card (Neil) 109.2
Surprisingly, this legend had gone nearly two years without winning before taking the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chases in the autumn of 2015. Silviniaco Conti was behind Cue Card at Haydock after winning the previous two King Georges so Colin Tizzard's star lined up for the Boxing Day showpiece at 9/2, half the price of that rival. Favourite Don Cossack fell two from home leaving Cue Card and Vautour to battle it out. And what a battle! Cue Card getting up to win by a head at the line. The Betfred Bowl was another notable success that season and Cue Card also delivered another Betfair Chase and an Ascot Chase the following year before retirement came after the 2018 festival
28 Nov 2015 Newbury, Hennessey Gold Cup - Smad Place (Neil) 124.0
The stunning-looking grey was unlucky to be around at the same time as some other great chasers but still picked up over £250k in prize money. This was the biggest pay day. Carrying 11st 4lb Smad was sent off 7/1 second favourite and turned the race into a procession. Wayne Hutchinson went on three out and stayed on to secure a 12-length win from Theatre Guide. Smad PLace took a Cotswold Chase and Old Roan Chase over the rest of his fine career before a deserved retirement in 2018.
21 Aug 2015 York, Nunthorpe Stakes - Mecca's Angel (Neil) 116.2
Michael Dods' four year-old had won a Group 3 and finished second in a Group 2 this season before lining up in the Nunthorpe. Sent off 15/2 third favourite she got up in the final 50 yards to get the better of favourite Acapulco by two lengths who, as a two year-old, was getting a stone and 10lbs weight advantage! Mecca's Angel repeated the feat in the Nunthorpe in 2016,coming home in front of the reliable Limato.
25 Jul 2015 Ascot, King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes - Postponed (Peej) 117.0
Following three beaten runs with Adam Kirby on board, Postponed was reunited with Andrea Atzeni who'd ridden the horse to wins in 2014. The move paid dividends for Luca Cumani as Postponed got up in the last stride, by a nose, at 6/1 from Eagle Top. Postponed won at Longchamp and was expected to have a tilt at the Arc but was removed from Cumani's stable after the trainer and owner (Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum) fell out. Postponed won four times for Roger Varian the following season but could only finish fifth in the 2016 Arc.
11 Jul 2015 Newmarket, July Cup - Muhaarar (Peej) 105.6
Charlie Hills star sprinter had won the Greenham, flopped in the French 2,000 Guineas and bounced back with a Commonwealth Cup win before being sent off 2/1 favourite at Newmarket. Paul Hanagan got Muhaarar up in the shadow of the post to beat Tropics by a nose. Muhaarar won at Deauville and the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot before the season ended and now stands at Nunnery stud at a fee of £20,000.
27 Jun 2015 The Curragh, Irish Derby - Jack Hobbs (Bob) 104.0
After being beaten into second in the Dante and then the Derby (both times by Golden Horn), Jack Hobbs picked up a pretty decent consolation prize at the Curragh. The 10/11F won comfortably for William Buick with five lengths to spare over Storm The Stars and anther five plus back to the rest. Won the September Stakes at Kempton the same year but the only other career win came at Meydan in the 2017 Dubai Sheema Classic.
11 Mar 2015 Cheltenham, RSA Chase - Don Poli (Lee) 104.6
Don Poli was sent off 13/8 favourite in an eight-runner RSA chase and stayed on strongly under Bryan Cooper to beat Southfield Theatre by six lengths. Won two races the following season (including the Lexus Chase) but only finished third behind Don Cossack in the Gold Cup. Switched from Willie Mullins to Gordon Elliott in 2016 but has only got his head in front in two point-to-points after switching to Philip Kirby. Last seen in the Cheltenham Foxhunters trailling in 11th, 45 lengths behind the winner.
18 Oct 2014 Ascot, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - Charm Spirit (Tony) 111.4
Charm Spirit had already won three top mile races in France this year before coming back to Britain. Night of Thunder had beaten Charm Spirit into fifth in May's 2000 Guineas but Freddy Head's horse turned the tables here. Olivier Peslier squeezed through a gap a furlong out and drove the horse out to win by half a length. It was straight to the breeding shed after this race for Charm Spirit.
20 Sep 2014 Leopardstown, Irish Champion Stakes - The Grey Gatsby 113.6* (Neil/Peej)
(*possibly mis-scored - might have incorrectly got single pick points.)
Australia was sent off the 30/100F for this edition of the race but went down to the grey by a neck. Joseph O'Brien put up a pound overweight and then took Australia round the wide outside. Ryan Moore rode a much better race, following the favourite until getting up in the closing strides at 7/1. The grey ran 17 more times without success.
6 Sep 2014 Haydock, Sprint Cup - G Force (Bob) 125.6
With Slade Power (see below) skipping the race for a tilt at the Darley Classic stablemate Sole Power was sent of favourite for this. It was G Force and the evergreen gordon Lord Byron that were locked together in the last 50 yards with David O'Meara's sprinter getting up by a three quarters of a length at 11/1. Posted just one more win (at Naas in 2018) before retirement.
12 July 2014 Newmarket, July Cup - Slade Power (Lee) 105.0
Following up last month's win (see below) the 7/4F had a length and a half to spare over 66/1 shot Tropics at the line. This was Slade Power's last British run but the European Champion sprinter went to Australia for the Darley Classic at Flemington, running no sort of race and finishing 11th.
21 Jun 2014 Ascot, Diamond Jubilee Stakes - Slade Power (Lee) 108.4
The five year-old gave 5lbs and a one and half length beating to Aiden O'Brien's Due Diligence. Sent off the 7/2F, Wayne Lordon was on board for Edward Lynam.
20 Jun 2014 Ascot, Coronation Stakes - Rizeena (Lee) 114.2
Ryan Moore guided the 11/2 chance to a three-quarter length victory ahead of Lesstalk in Paris. Favourite Lightning Thunder was further three lengths back in ninth. This was Rizeena's last win.
14 Mar 2014 Cheltenham, Gold Cup - Lord Windermere (Neil) 146.8
A 20/1 shock winner of the big one in a desperately tight finish (a short head from On His Own with The Giant Bolster less than a length behind in third). Had won the RSA a year before but had not been in the first five in three runs since. Never won again and only finished in the first three three times in 12 attempts.
13 Mar 2014 Cheltenham, Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle - Very Wood (Bob) 153.8
A massive 33/1 upset running out a four and a half length winner over Deputy Dan. Only won one more race but was disqualified from another after a banned substance was found in a sample. Last run was in the four-miler a year after this win.
12 Mar 2014 Cheltenham, RSA Chase - O'Faolains Boy (Peej) 126.6
A 12/1 chance for Barry Geraghty and Rebecca Curtis managed to hold off Smad Place in a last half a furlong duel. Won only once more and finished seventh in Don Cossack's Gold Cup.
19 Oct 2013 Ascot, Champion Stakes - Farhh (Martin) 108.8
The 11/4 shot wins his last race before retirement under Silvestre de Sousa, just getting the better of favourite Cirrus Des Aigles by a neck. Now stands for £12,000 at Dalham Hall Stud.
7 Sep 2013 Leopardstown, Irish Champion Stakes - The Fugue (Steve) 114.8
William Buick made the most of the 3lb pull at the weights to beat odds-on Al Kazeem by a length and a quarter at 4/1. Only raced five more times but did win the Prince of Wales Stakes in 2014.
