2015/16 - Boozypunter Horse of the Season

The scores are in and the first Boozypunter Horse of the Season has been named.

Congratulations - Cue Card.

Cue Card's first points of the season came at Haydock in November in the Betfair Chase. Cue gave Silviniaco Conti a seven length beating at 7/4 to earn 55 points.

A desperately close win over Vautour in the King George on Boxing Day at 9/2 saw a triple figure points haul but the season will always be remembered as a 'what might have been' thanks to that fall three out in the Gold Cup.

Cue Card proved there were no lasting ill-effects with a dominant win in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree. An eased-down nine-length demolition of Don Poli completing a 200+ points season and taking the Horse of the Honours from the dashing grey Smad Place with Douvan back in third.

218 - Cue Card (55 + 109.2 + 53.8)
183.2 - Smad Place (124 + 59.2)
144.2 - Douvan (13.1 + 26.6 + 26.1 + 52.2 + 26.2)

Cue Card was a single pick by Neil.

Boozypunter Horse of the Season - Previous 'winners'

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.

Here's what I found...

2015 - MUHAARAR (Peej) 292.8
2. Golden Horn 248.6
3. Solow 182

2014/15 - DON COSSACK (Tony) 214.6
2. Don Poli 187.8
3. Many Clouds 170.6

2014 - CHARM SPIRIT (Tony) 264.9
2. The Grey Gatsby 198.9
3. Australia 168.6

2013/14 - O'FAOLAIN'S BOY (Peej) 174.2
2. Whisper 172
3. Very Wood 153.8

2013 - THE FUGUE (Steve) 171.6
2. Farrh 166
3. Al Kazeem 146.1

2012/13 - HURRICANE FLY (Neil, Tony) 133.1
2. Zarkandar 114.7
3. Bob's Worth 108.3

2015/16 Jumps Issue 24 - final jumps scores

Headlines

Sprinter Rules Supreme at Sandown 

Report

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      April    Total

Neil                   80                1024

Lee                     105.8          796.3

Cliff                   77.5            778.8

Tony                  77.5             746.6

Bob                    52.6             735.8

Peej                   26.2             670.1

Cod                    63.5           593.1

Martin                77.5            590.8

Steve                  53.3              545.4

So Lee claims the last trainer of the month, and Neil picks up the Title, which has been his for some while.

Congratulations

News

Aidan O'Brien has admitted to doubts regarding the stamina of red-hot favourite Air Force Blue ahead Saturday's Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Richard Hannon is praying the rain stays away from Newmarket to allow him to run Illuminate in the Qipco 1000 Guineas on Saturday.

If she is forced to miss this weekend, Hannon will switch her sights to the Irish equivalent

2015/16 Jumps Issue 23 - last two days of the jumps competition

Headline

Mercurey Rises  to Top at Ayr

Report

At Ayr last Saturday in the 2m 4f novice chase, Le Mercurey ( Lee), took his chance, pressed leaders, went 2^nd before 5^th, led 10^th, to 13^th, regained lead after 4 out, driven and kept on strongly from 2 out, winning by 7l. He gets 53.2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      April    Total

Neil                   80                1024

Lee                     105.8          796.3

Cliff                   77.5            778.8

Tony                  77.5             746.6

Bob                    52.6             735.8

Peej                   26.2                670.1

Martin                77.5            590.8

Cod                    36.4              566

Steve                  26.2              518.3

News

With the Nicholls / Mullins battle for the trainers title going to the wire, the last day of the competition should see plenty of action.

Willie Mullins relies on Un De Sceaux in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday after deciding against declaring Douvan and Vautour

n a repeat of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Un De Sceaux will clash with Nicky Henderson's stable star Sprinter Sacre

2015/16 Jumps Issue 22 - two weeks to go

Headlines

York Hill kinds Mersey Hurdle

Douvan wins Maghull Chase

Report

At Aintree last Friday in the 2m 4f grade 1 novice hurdle, Yorkhill (Bob, Lee), went to post, held up in rear, took keen hold, soon tracking leaders, led before 7^th, jumped left and not fluent after, hung left after last, driven out , winning by 2 ½ l. He gets 26.4 points.

In the 2m grade 1 novice chase, Douvan (Not Cod), went to post, tracked leader, not fluent 3^rd, led after 9^th, clear 2 out, winning very easily by 14l . He gets 26.2 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      April    Total

Neil                   80                1024

Cliff                   77.5            778.8

Tony                  77.5             746.6

Lee                     52.6             743.1

Bob                    52.6             735.8

Peej                   26.2                670.1

Martin                77.5            590.8

Cod                    36.4              566

Steve                  26.2              518.3

2015/16 Jumps Issue 21 - three winners at Aintree today

Headlines

Annie Powers Home

Card delivered on Cue

On The Fringe wins Foxhunters

Report

In the 21m 4f Grade 1 Aintree hurdle, Annie Power ( Cliff Martin, Tony ), went to post, racked leader, led just after 5th, drew clear from 2 out, winning easily by 18 l . She gets 51.3 points.

In the 3m 1f grade 1 Aintree Bowl chase, Cue Card ( Neil), took his chance, Held up in touch, headway 4th to track leaders, led 3 out, clear before last on bit, soon shaken up, ran on strongly, eased towards finish, winning by 9l. He gets 53.8 points.

In the 2m 5f Foxhunters chase, On The Fringe ( Cod), took his chance, Always handy, went 2nd from 13th (Valentines), challenged 2 out on bit, led before elbow, soon shaken up, ran on well, winning by 8l. He gets 36.4 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                      April    Total

Neil                   53.8                997.5

Cliff                   51.3             752.6

Tony                  51.3              720.4

Lee                     00                690.5

Bob                    00               683.2

Peej                   00                643.9

Cod                    36.4              566

Martin                51.3           564.6

Steve                  00               492.1

Congratulations to Lee who was March trainer of the month

News

Vautour heads a strong Willie Mullins presence in the JLT Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday

2015/16 Jumps Issue 20 - no update

No winners and can't find any thing to report on punters horses, so we await Aintree.