2025/26 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Lossiemouth

Neil's single pick of Willie Mullins' star mare propelled him to the title. 

Lossiemouth started at Punchestown in November as 1/5F for the Morgiana Hurdle and coasted to a 19-length victory under Paul Townend for 42.4 points.

Next up was the December Hurdle at Leopardstown on the 29th of that month. Lossiemouth, the 4/6 favourite, duelled with another top mare in Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead but ultimately came out on top by a length and bagged 53.34 points for the eventual champ.

The two horses met again at Leopardstown in February for the Irish Champion Hurdle. This time it was Brighterdaysahead who came out on top by three and a quarter lengths. That sparked even more pf a debate than usual about Lossiemouth's Cheltenham target.

With Nicky Henderson's Sir Gino and Constitution Hill ruled out, the Champion Hurdle became the obvious target. Lossiemouth was the 7/5F ahead of old rival Brighterdaysahead and top British challenger The New Lion in the betting.

Picking up the lead after the turn for home Townend waited until after the last to let Lossiemouth go and she raced up the hill to an impressive six and a half length win and 79.8 points.

The top three:

175.54 - Lossiemouth (42.4 + 53.34 +79.8)

175.26 - No Drama This End (52 + 42.9 + 52.9 +27.46)

139.56 - Brighterdaysahead (57.5 + 26.8 + 55.26)

2025 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Calandagan

The Cod single pick started the Punter season with a second place, half a length behind Jan Brueghel, in Epsom's Coronation Cup. That was worth 26.6 points but the scoring was about to take off.

At the end of June Mickael Barzalona piloted the horse to victory at 2/1 on in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, sprinting clear in the final 150 yards to beat Aventure and earn Cod 53 points.

It was back to Ascot in July to tackle the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The 11/10F gave three pounds and a length beating to Kalpana and totted up another 79.2 points for Cod's title charge.

F-H Graffard sent the horse back to Ascot in October for the Champion Stakes. This time it was only second favourite behind Ombudsman but Barzalona produced the horse a furlong out to run on well and take the win by two and a quarter lengths and earn Cod another 79.2 points.

Cod had clinched the title before this but the 78.4 points propelled him to the biggest ever winning margin in the Punter competition.

The top three:

237.2 - Calandagan (26.6 + 53 + 79.2 + 78.4)

224.18 - Delacroix (32.68 + 84.1 + 27.4 + 81)

214.8 - Ombudsman (91.8 + 29.3 + 80.5 + 13.2)

(Second place Delacroix was also a Cod single pick.)

Horse of the Season - The Roll of Honour

It's not scientific, it's the horse that earns the most points for us.

Here's a list of all the winners*

2025 - Calandagan

2024/25 - Jonbon

2024 - Kyprios

2023/24 - State Man

2023 - Highfield Princess

2022/23 - State Man

2022 - Alpinista

2021/22 - Allaho

2021 - St Mark's Basilica

2020/21 - Shishkin

2020 - Ghaiyyath

2019/20 - Defi Du Seuil and Honeysuckle (shared)

2019 - Japan

2018/19 - Frodon

2018 - Alpha Centauri

2017/18 - Footpad

2017 - Enable

2016/17 - Native River

2016 - Minding

2015/16 - Cue Card

2015 - Muhaarar

2014/15 - Don Cossack

2014 - Charm Spirit

2013/14 - O'Faolain's Boy

2013 - The Fugue

2012/13 - Hurricane Fly

*OK, so Horse of the Season wasn't a thing until 2015/16 but we can apply the same principle and go back a bit further with the theme.

2024/25 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Jonbon

Nicky Henderson's stable star has been a regular in the competition since 2021/22, racking up 82.31 points in that season, 150.79 in 2022/23, 154.03 in 2023/24 before finally coming out on top this season with a total of 228.9.

The biggest surprise was that Jonbon was a single pick for Steve this season having been abandoned by Martin. It played a part in Steve ultimately taking the title.

Jonbon's season started in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on the opening day of the competition. A one and a half length win at 1/3F was good for 42.68 points.

The Tingle Creek at Sandown was next and the 8/13F overcame the heavy ground under Nico De Boinville to run out an eight length winner and earn Steve another 53.24 points.

That points haul was exactly repeated at Ascot in January in the Clarence House. It was a comfortable win by six and a half lengths with Energumene the nearest challenger.

The first blemish of the season came in the Champion Chase at the Festival. A shocking jumping error cost the odds-on favourite any chance of getting involved in the finish and it was an 18 lengths second to Marine Nationale in the end. A bonus race still earned Steve 26.4 points.

Jonbon returned to winning ways at Aintree in the Melling Chase. Leading after the eighth the horse eased clear to deliver another 53.34 points to Steve's total. The season ended at Sandown with a defeat to Il Etait Temps but Jonbon had already done enough to etch his name onto the Roll of Honour.

The top three:

228.9 - Jonbon (42.68 + 53.24 + 53.24 + 26.4 + 53.34)

193.0 - Golden Ace (44.4 + 148.6)

161.0 - Lossiemouth (53.16 + 53.34 + 54.5)

2024 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Kyprios

who wins the award with a record single-season points total. A retained single pick for Cliff, this season's champ Neil also benefited from the selection which won a total of six races during our season (and one before it started at Navan.)

The first points-scoring run was on 17 May at Leopardstown in a Group 3 over 1m 6f when, as 1/12F. Ryan Moore brought the horse home by a cosy length from the other Aiden O'Brien runner Queenstown. Kyprios stepped up to Group 1 level at Ascot at the following month for the Gold Cup over 2m 4f. It was another length victory, from Trawlerman this time, under the same pilot, at 11/10F.

July's win came in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup at 8/13F. This time Moore and Kyprios had four lengths to spare over runner-up Sweet William. The Irish St Leger at the Curragh on 15 September was the next target. It was another comfortable win, this time by two and a quarter lengths at 2/5F, with Willie Mullins' classy hurdler Vauban filling the runner-up spot.

Three weeks later the assignment was the Prix Du Cadran at Longchamp. This time Kyprios started at 1/5F under Moore and readily took the prize with Alan King's Trueshan two lengths back. There was a quick reappearance a fortnight later for Champions Day at Ascot and the Group 2 Long Distance Cup. The horse kept on well to deny old rival Sweet William by two and a quarter lengths at 8/11F.

Kyprios becomes the first stayer to top the TRC World Ranking list and is set to stay in training in 2025. Cliff must be rubbing his hands!

The top three:

313.3 - Kyprios (32.2 + 79.2 + 53.24 + 52.8 + 52.4 + 43.46)

274.1 - Bluestocking (47 + 54.2 + 27.5 + 57.4 + 88)

245.34- Charyn (27.4 + 83.68 + 53.8 + 80.26)

2023/24 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

State Man

who retains the Jumps HOTS award. Peej kept single pick rights for the Mullins hurdling star and Martin also selected the 2022/23 Champion Hurdle runner-up.

State Man returned in the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November and won like a 1/6 favourite should with Echoes In Rain five lengths back in second to earn Peej 52.2 points (Martin gets half points of course.)

The presence of Impaire Et Passe in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown between Christmas and New Year meant that State Man went off at 7/4 on but Paul Townend just had to push the favourite out late on for a comfortable three and a quarter length win. 52.8 points this time.

It was Leopardstown again in February for the Irish Champion Hurdle and it was another facile win for the 2/5 favourite. Bob Olinger got closest to State Man this time but was still beaten five and a half lengths. Eventual champion Peej bagged another 52.6 points

So to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle. With some sort of malaise in the Henderson stable Constitution Hill was absent and State Man went off as the 2/5 favourite for the big prize. The heavy ground perhaps didn't play to it's strength but the horse and Townend were always doing enough to deny Irish Point (who surely wants further) by a length and a quarter. The bonus race meant that there was 76.4 points for Peej on his way to a third successive jumps crown.

The top three:

234.0 - State Man (52.2 + 52.8 + 52.6 + 76.4)

156.4 - Gaelic Warrior (22.6 + 52.8 + 81)

155.21 - Galopin Des Champs (52.1 + 51.2 + 51.91)

2023 Boozy Punter: Horse of the Season

Congratulations to....

Highfield Princess

This single pick for Bob was one of only two horses to register four points-scoring races this season (Tahiyra was the other.)

After winning big sprint prizes in England, France and Ireland in 2022 perhaps it was a bit of a surprise that John Quinn's stable star was selected by just one of us.

The season started with a half-length defeat to Azure Blue over 6f at York in May and it was a second place in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot that brought the first points of the season, 26.7. Four days later the horse was back out again at the Royal meeting, finishing third this time in the 6f Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

The first win of the season came at the Group 2 five furlong Qatar Stakes at Goodwood at the start of August. Regular jockey Jason Hart guiding the horse to a three length win over White Lavender at 4/9F and earning Bob 42.9 points.

Highfield Princess was campaigned over the minimum trip for the rest of the season but was denied a follow-up in the Nunthorpe by 28/1 shot Live In The Dream. That was still worth 26.6 points in the competition.

The poorest performance of the season came at the Curragh in the Flying Five in September but an awkward start and possibly being in season was some explanation for the run.

The crowning glory of the season came at Longchamp in the Prix de l'Abbaye. The 21/10 favourite hit the frong 50 yards out to win readily by a length from Perdika. That meant an 81.2 point haul and was pretty much the clincher for Bob in the title race.

The top three:

177.4 - Highfield Princess (26.7 + 42.9 + 26.6 + 81.2)

160.68 - Al Husn (27.68 + 38 + 95)

159.8 - Auguste Rodin (55.5 + 51.3 + 53)

2022/23 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to

State Man

Though State Man was decisively beaten by Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle, our single pick rules meant that Willie Mullins' star hurdler was our top points scorer this season.

Eventual champion Peej was the Punter with the single pick and would have been delighted with a comfortable season-opening 51.4 points win in the Morgiana Hurdle in November. Paul Townend on board (as he was for all the runs) the 4/9 favourite and old stager Sharjah four lengths behind in second.

Four and a quarter lengths was the margin at the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown in December as State Man delivered 53.2 points when coming home at 4/6F ahead of Vauban.

It was back to Leopardstown in February for the Irish Champion Hurdle. This time it was two-time Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle that was beaten into second, by four and three quarter lengths, by the 6/5 favourite. That earned Peej 78.8 points.

There was another 23.4 points for that runner-up spot in the Champion Hurdle but with the Punchestown Festival falling into our competition this year there was a chance for redemption.

Despite a less-than-textbook jump at the last, State Man came home comfortably at 2/5F for 52.4 points - Vauban the closest challenger three lengths in arrears.

The top three:

259.2 - State Man (51.4 + 53.2 + 78.8 + 23.4 + 52.4)

207.36 - Lossiemouth (38 + 63.2 + 54.76 + 52.4)

204.91 - Constitution Hill (51.25 + 51.15 + 51.37 + 51.14)

2022 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Alpinista

Somewhat surprisingly a single pick for Neil for the second season running, Alpinista's reappearance came in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July. Luke Morris drove out the five-year-old to win at 79/10 and earn Neil 67.8 points.

The Yorkshire Oaks was the next target and despite carrying nine pounds more than the runner-up, Alpinista at 7/4F was always doing enough to hold off Tuesday and earn another 55.8 points for the eventual flat champ.

The ultimate target for the season was the Arc and Alpinista arrived as 33/10 favourite. Everything went to plan and the grey stayed on well under a great ride from Morris to deny Vadeni and last year's winner Torquator Tasso. Our on-course representative Sir Mark Prescott summed up the day: "It has been just a marvellous journey – I'm lucky to get a good one at this stage of my career."

The 83.6 points for the win wasjust enough to deny Baaeed, many people's pick for the Horse of the Season title, by the smallest of margins.

The top three:

207.2 - Alpinista (67.8 + 55.8 + 83.6)

206.59 - Baaeed (51.45 + 51.17 + 51.17 + 52.8)

119.76 - Emily Upjohn (33.16 + 26.5 + 60.1)

2021/22 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

Is...

Allaho

After a great winter campaign in 2020/21, capped off with an easy win in the Ryanair at Cheltenham, it was a surprise that Allaho was a single pick for Peej. Perhaps a Punchestown defeat (over an insufficient? two miles) to Chacun Pour Soi after the Punter season had finished put off some potential pickers.

Willie Mullins made the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown in December the scene for Allaho's reappearance. Mr P W Mullins took the ride and it wasn't a perfect display but Allaho did come home a two-length winner at 7/2 and 56.6 points.

Paul Townend was in the Saddle in January this year for an easier win at Thurles in a Grade Two chase. The 4/11f had twelve lengths to spare over the talented Fakir D'Oudairies at the end to bank another 42.2 points.

Allaho was odds on for a Ryanair repeat at Cheltenham in March and despite a slight mistake at the last the win never looked in doubt and a winning distance of 14 lengths to deliver Peej another 78.16 points. Towned was delighted with the horse:  “He is a beast,” he said. “I was going the gallop he wanted to go. I don’t interfere with him. Once he was jumping and galloping at that speed, it was going to take a fair one to come by him."

Our top three were:

176.96 - Allaho (56.6 + 42.2 + 78.16)

169.59 - Epatante (50.09 + 51.8 + 14.7 + 53)

160.8 - Coole Cody (72.8 + 88)

2021 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to the connections of

St. Mark's Basilica

The A.P O'Brien-trained three year old was a single pick for Tony that almost took him to the title.

The bay colt started his season in France with a one and a quarter length win in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp under Ioritz Mendizabal at 41/10.

That was worth 60.2 points in our competition and it wasn't long before there was another 57.6 points in the bank courtesy of a one and three quarters length victory over future Champion Stakes winner Sealiway under the same pilot in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Four weeks later Ryan Moore was in the saddle for the Eclipse at Sandown and guided the evens favourite to a three and a half length win from Addeybb and 78.7 points for Tony. Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings now had St Mark's Basilica at the top of the pile.

After a break to recover following a freak gallops incident in which his front shoe came off and hit his hind leg, St Mark's Basilica returned to the track in September as 5/6F for the Irish Champion Stakes. This time Moore came under pressure (from Tarnawa) in the final furlong and his drift across the track saw him in the Stewards' Room. Moore picked up a one-day ban for careless riding but the horse kept the race (worth 77.8 points in our competition.)

Two weeks later came the news that the soreness in the leg had returned and St Mark's Basilica was retired. O'Brien described the horse as "possibly the best we have ever had in Ballydoyle." He's now off to the breeding sheds with Coolmore's David O'Loughlin saying: "He's the most exciting prospect we've retired from Ballydoyle since his late grandfather Galileo."

The top three this season were:

274.3 - St Mark's Basilica (60.2 + 57.6 + 78.7 + 77.8)

268.2 - Hurricane Lane (50.8 + 84 + 55.4 + 78)

231.2 - Palace Pier (77.6 + 77.4 + 52.2 + 24)

2020/21 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to the connections of...

Shishkin

A rule change at the start of the season meant that Cliff carried forward double points rights on Shishkin for the season. Martin, Neil, Peej and Steve were also on board with the selection.

We didn't have to wait long for the reappearance as Shishkin landed odds of 1/6 in a four-runner field, coming home by 23 lengths in a Beginners Chase at Kempton on 23 November. Nicky Henderson's stable star returned to Kempton on 27 December for a 13-length win at 1/3F in the Wayward Lad.

The final Cheltenham prep race was at Doncaster at the end of January. Nico De Boinville was on board as usual and went on from four out to win at 1/7F by eight and a half lengths by Eldorado Allen. That rival got 'closest' at Cheltenham in the Arkle but it was a 12 length victory this time for the 4/9 favourite.

The final appearance of the season came at Aintree. It perhaps wasn't the most convincing performance by a 1/8 shot but De Boinville had enough horse to ease to a three and a quarter length win over Funambule Sivola.

Already 6/4 favourite for next year's Champion Chase there could be plenty more points to come from Shishkin over the coming years.

Our top three this season were:

236.2 - Shishkin (22.2 + 42.2 + 42.2 + 77.4 + 52.2)

155.6 - Thyme Hill (48.8 + 24 + 82.8)

154.8 - Honeysuckle (51.4 + 51.6 + 51.8)

2020 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to the connections of...

Ghaiyyath

There was a belated start to the season due to the pandemic but Ghaiyyath was ready to go on the first Saturday and landed a big prize. Charlie Appleby's stable star took the Coronation Cup at Newmarket by two and a half lengths from 2019 Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck.

That win was worth 78.8 points to Steve and there was more to come a month later. The venue was Sandown for the Coral Eclipse. William Buick was in the saddle again and piloted the 9/4 shot to a comfortable two and a quarter length win over racing royalty Enable. That earned another 81.4 points.

York in August was next on the agenda for the five year old and the Juddmonte International was delivered in style. An eased-down win by three lengths at 11/8F favourite from Aiden O'Brien's Magical landed another 79.2 points and put Ghaiyyath firmly in the driving seat for Horse of the Season honours.

There was defeat in the horse's last race though. Magical turned the tables by three quarters of a length at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes. That was still worth 26.04 points under the new single pick rules though. (Magical was in with a shot of the title but finished third in the Champions Stakes at Ascot to finish runner-up overall for the second successive flat season.)

Ghaiyyath was being aimed at the 2020 Breeders Cup but was retired after showing signs of soreness after a piece of work.

The top three this season were:

265.44 - Ghaiyyath (78.8 + 81.4 + 79.2 + 26.04)

216.7 - Magical (52.4 + 51.1 + 30 + 83.2)

145.6 - Sottsass (54 + 91.6) 

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)

The 2019 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Japan

Tony's single pick edged out Magical and Stradivarius to take the title with three big points wins.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Galileo had a very good 2 year-old season finishing with a Group 2 win at Naas. Ryan Moore took the first ride of the classic season which was a fourth-placed finish behind Telecaster in the Dante.

Wayne Lordon was on board for the Derby and dropped his whip 100 yards out before steering his mount to a close up third place, beaten half a length and a nose. That run looked to be the turning point for the horse.

Moore was back in the saddle three weeks later for the mile and a half King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot. The 6/4 favourite cruised clear of the field, Bangkok the nearest challenger, to win by four and a half lengths.

Another three weeks on and it was another win for Japan. This time at Longchamp and a first Group One in the Grande Prix de Paris (won the previous year by stablemate Kew Gardens) by half a length from Slalom at 1/2.

The next target was York in August and the Group One Juddmonte. Ryan Moore prevailed in a tremendous finish against the favourite, super-consistent Crystal Ocean. A half stone pull in the weights proving decisive against the Michael Stoute's five year-old.

Japan couldn't finish the season on a high in the Arc. It was a fourth-placed finish behind Waldgeist, Enable and Sottsass. Will Japan be back for another tilt at the top prizes next year?

The top three were:

182.7 - Japan (43.9 + 53 + 85.8)
174.7 - Magical (21.1 + 26.1 + 12 + 12 + 51.7 + 51.8)
167.2 - Stradivarius (21.6 + 51.8 + 51.5 + 21.2 + 21.1)

2018/19 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Frodon

The Paul Nicholls charge was rated in the low 160s in the 2017/18 season and had landed a decent prize in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham on Trials Day. There was a disappointing end to the season for the horse though with big margin defeats at Ascot and twice at Cheltenham.

Wind surgery in the summer seemed to revitalise the horse and Frodon won the Old Roan Chase at Aintree under regular partner Bryony Frost before the competition started. Was this the run that enticed Cod to make Frodon a single pick?

The second day of the jumps competition saw Frodon go off at 16/1 for our first bonus race, the BetVictor Gold Cup. The horse jumped well but couldn't give a stone away to the winner Baron Alco and was a brave two-length second.

Frodon returned to Cheltenham in December for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. Top weight again and
7/1 fourth choice of the betting market Bryony got a fine tune out of the gelding and guided him to victory by one and a quarter lengths from Cepage.

With eyes starting to turn to the Festival Frodon had a date with Cheltenham Trials Day. Now rated 169 Frodon was a narrow second favourite at 9/4 behind Elegant Escape in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase. The two market leaders fought out the finish with Frodon coming out on top by three parts of a length..

With the Festival on the horizon Nicholls now had a decision to make. Would he send Frodon to the Gold Cup or was the shorter Ryanair to be the option? The Ryanair got the nod but this was not looking like a penalty kick. Frodon was one of five out of the 12 strong field that went off 5/1 or less. Irish raider Footpad was 7/2 fave, Frodon and Elegant Escape were 9/2 and two more from Ireland in Un De Sceaux and Monalee were at fives.

Frodon and Frost took up their usual place at the head of the race and led the field round until two out when 33/1 outsider Aso took up the running. Frodon wasn't to be denied and dug in to battle back, get up with 150 yards to go and go on to a one and a quarter length win - a first Grade One victory over obstacles for a female jockey at Cheltenham.

An emotional Frost gave her reaction straight after the race: "He travelled, my God he jumped, and the moment he got overtaken two out most horses would have quit. He grabbed me by the hands and said don't you dare give up. He's unbelievable!"

That was it for the season for Frodon - what will we see from the partnership when the competition comes round again?

The top three this season were:

279.0 - Frodon (24 + 90 + 80.4 + 84.6)
210.8 - Tiger Roll (71.2 + 54.2 + 85.4)
206.2 - Altior (51.5 + 26.1 + 51.1 + 51.4 + 26.1)

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)

2017/18 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

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)

2017 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Enable

with six wins in the season and an excellent 254.3 points.

That scoring season started in May with the an eased down victory in the Cheshire Oaks. ('Impressive' to our esteemed Editor's eyes). Three weeks later John Gosden's star filly was at Epsom to pick up the Oaks by five lengths from the odds-on Rhododendron. We wouldn't see 6/1 about this horse again!

Frankie Dettori was forming a fine partnership with Enable and they went to the Curragh in July for the Irish Oaks. The race ended in another eased down victory, this time by five and a half lengths from Rain Goddess. Enable was out again just two weeks later and there was another Group One in the bag - this time ('storming to glory' - editor) in the King George with Ulysses the closest pursuer.

Four to one on favourite for the Yorkshire Oaks at the end of August, the odds were landed in style at York. 'Very readily' by five lengths from Coronet.

Given a break after the York win, there was one more target - the Arc. Kept handy by Dettori the daughter of Nathaniel quickened, went away from the field and stayed on to win by two and a half lengths from Cloth of Stars. A great season, a worthy winner.


254.3 - Enable (14.6 + 56.4 + 51.4 + 52.1 + 26.2 + 53.6)
235 - Decorated Knight (57.8 + 24 + 153.2)
221 - Capri (113.2 + 107.8)

Lee, Martin and Steve's totals were all boosted by our Horse of the Season.

2016/17 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

This season the award goes to...

Native River 

Colin Tizzard's charge picked up its first points of the season at Newbury in the Hennessey, Sent off at 7/2F Native River had enough to see off Carole's Destrier by half a length for a 100+ point haul. 

Native River was favourite again a month later for the Welsh National at Chepstow. Richard Johnson was on board again and guided the horse to a comfortable win.

It was three out of three in our competition back at Newbury in February for the Denman Chase. A three-runner race it was a muddling affair but Aiden Coleman kept finding more and Native River won at 11/10.

Fancied for the Gold Cup, Native River finished third but had enough points in the bag to take our prize.

210 - Native River (109.2 + 57 + 43.8)

174.6 - Nichols Canyon (53 + 121.6)

168.2 - Petit Mouchoir (64.4 + 103.8)

(Altior's six wins were only good enough for sixth place)

Native River was a single pick for Micky.