The voice of racing men since 1998

Monday, 4 May 2026

2026 Flat - What's in a name?

James J Braddock 
James Walter Braddock (June 7, 1905 – November 29, 1974) was an American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1937.
Fighting under the name James J. Braddock (ostensibly to follow the pattern set by two prior world boxing champions, James J. Corbett and James J. Jeffries), Braddock was known for his spoiling, counterpunching style, powerful right hand, and iron chin. 

He lost several bouts because of chronic hand injuries and was forced to work on the docks and collect social assistance to feed his family during the Great Depression. He made a comeback, and in 1935 he fought Max Baer for the world heavyweight championship and won. For this unlikely feat he was given the nickname "Cinderella Man" by Damon Runyon. Braddock was managed by Joe Gould.

Montezuma 
Montezuma II (born 1466—died c. June 30, 1520, Tenochtitlán, within modern Mexico City) was the ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico, famous for his dramatic confrontation with the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés.

In 1502 Montezuma succeeded his uncle Ahuitzotl as the leader of an empire that had reached its greatest extent, stretching to what is now Honduras and Nicaragua, but that was weakened by the resentment of the subject tribes to the increasing demands for tribute and victims for the religious sacrifices. Montezuma was commander of the army and organized extensive expeditions of conquest in deference to Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and of the sun. Through astrologers, the god instilled in the emperor a kind of fatalism in the face of an uncertain future.

Schrödinger's Cat
Schrödinger's cat is a famous 1935 quantum mechanics thought experiment by Erwin Schrödinger, illustrating the absurdity of applying quantum superposition to everyday objects. A cat in a sealed box is linked to a random subatomic event that may or may not kill it, theoretically placing the cat in a simultaneous "alive and dead" state until observed.

2026 Flat - Bonus Races and Scoring

All races in the UK and Ireland, Group and listed races in France, Group and Grade 1 level weights races World Wide
Group/ Grade 1 25 points,
Group 2 20
Group 3 15
Listed          12 ( Races run off set weight Bands)    
Handicaps   10 (Races run off a weight range , ie 0-90, and including handicaps with the word listed in the title)
Heritage handicaps 25 points. 
All other races     10
2nd place in Bonus races 12 points + tote return

Grand Slam , there are 4 grand slam events, 2 on the flat at Royal Ascot and York in August, Cheltenham and Aintree over jumps.  the top scoring trainer at these meetings gains an extra 20 points. Any one winning all 4 on the bounce completes the Grand Slam and gets another 20 point bonus.

Single Pick Bonus of double points, unless race is bonus race, when only the points value of the race is added as a bonus.

Bonus Races
2,000 GUINEAS NEWMARKET, MAY 
1,000 GUINEAS NEWMARKET, MAY 
Lockinge Stakes                        Newbury May                                             
Oaks        EPSOM, JUNE 
CORONATION CUP EPSOM   JUNE 
DERBY EPSOM    JUNE 
ST JAMES PALACE STAKES ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE 
QUEEN ANNE STAKES ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE 
PRINCE OF WALES STAKES ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE 
ASCOT GOLD CUP ROYAL ASCOT,   JUNE 
CORONATION STAKES ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE 
DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES ROYAL ASCOT,  JUNE 
KING CHARLES III Stakes (Kings Stand)  Royal Ascot June                                          
Commonwealth Cup       Royal Ascot June                                                     
Irish Derby CURRAGH,   JUNE  
ECLIPSE STAKES SANDOWN    JULY  
JULY CUP NEWMARKET,   JULY   
KING GEORGE VI & QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES ASCOT,   JULY  
SUSSEX STAKES GOODWOOD,   JULY 
NASSAU STAKES GOODWOOD,  AUGUST                                      
INTERNATIONAL STAKES  York
NUNTHORPE STAKES YORK,   AUGUST                               
IRISH CHAMPION STAKES , LEOPARDSTOWN, SEPTEMBER 
ST LEGER DONCASTER,  SEPTEMBER 
PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE LONGCHAMP OCTOBER 
CHAMPION STAKES  ASCOT,   OCTOBER 
QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES ASCOT,  OCTOBER

2026 Flat - Previous Champs and Chumps

Previous Champs and Chumps
Figures in brackets are point’s totals. 10 Horses were used up to jumps 99/2000 when we moved to 15.
From jump season 200/7 8 single picks get double points.
Hall Of Fame                              List Of Shame                             
Flat 1998   Steve
Flat 1999  Tony (276)            Spoon Bob (59)
Flat 2000 Bob    (497)           Spoon  Steve (105)
Flat 2001 Cod    (402)           Spoon  Cliff (99)
Flat 2000 John (794)            Spoon  Steve (259)
Flat 2003 Neil (601)             Spoon)  Steve) (229)
Flat 2004  John                    Spoon  Peej)
Flat 2005  Neil                      Spoon John   
Flat 2006 Neil (580)             Spoon Peej (224)
Flat 2007  Cliff 703             Spoon Martin 155     
Flat 2008  Cod 1019             Spoon  Steve
Flat 2009  Peej 874                Spoon Tony333
Flat 2010 Bob 958                  Spoon  John 456
Flat 2011 John967                Spoon    Steve    546
Flat 2012  Cod   881               Spoon    Peej   498
Flat 2013 Martin   778.5           Spoon   Bob   377
Flat 2014  Lee    1222.1             Spoon   Martin 443.1
Flat 2015  Cliff   1057.1            Spoon   Steve     340.8
Flat 2016   Bob   875.9             Spoon    Steve  328.1   
Flat 2017   Martin  821.2         Spoon Cod   184.5
Flat2018    Cliff     1254.8         Spoon  Cod  246.2
Flat 2019    Neil  1437.2            Spoon   Peej 545.4
Flat 2020   Cliff   872.4              Spoon   Cod    307.35 * short season due to Covid      
Flat 2021 Steve 802.8                Spoon Peej    217.75
Flat 2022   Neil 838.73                Spoon Cod 250.8
Flat 2023   Bob  995.46              Spoon   Peej  432.74
Flat   2024 Neil 1039.33              Spoon  Bob 553.22
Flat   2025  Cod 1037.94             Spoon  Cliff  328.98 

Jumps Hall Of Fame                    List Of  Shame
Jumps 98/99 Cliff                        Spoon Steve
Jumps 99/00 Cliff(541)                Spoon Steve (182)
Jumps 00/01 Bob (387)                Spoon Lee  (198)
Jumps 01/02 Martin (512)          Spoon Steve (161)
Jumps 02/03 Lee (618)                Spoon Cod  (238)
Jumps 03/04 Neil( 661)               Spoon Steve (361)
Jumps 04/05 John (571)             Spoon Steve (166)
Jumps 05/06 John (571)             Spoon Cliff (180)      
Jumps 06/07 Lee 705                   Spoon  Cod  203
Jumps 07/08 Cliff 703                Spoon   John 322
Jumps 08/09 Lee 737                 Spoon   Tony 249
Jumps   09/10  Bob 983              Spoon    Neil 497
Jumps 10/11   Martin 750         Spoon   Peej 481
Jumps 11/12    Cod   698           Spoon Neil 441
Jumps 12/13  Neil                       Spoon Cliff  
Jumps 13/14  Peej, 842.6          Spoon  Cliff   400.2
Jumps 14/15 Tony 910.6      Spoon 327.8
Jumps 15/16   Neil                 Spoon Steve 545.4  
  Jumps   16/17 Lee 1061                 Spoon   Bob  645.8           
Jumps 17/18  Steve    1035.84          Spoon  Bob  510.9
Jumps 18/19   Peej    1055.1               Spoon     Neil 559.1
Jumps 19/20  Steve 737.7                   Spoon  Cod 481.3  (Season stopped on March 20th due to Covid 19)
Jumps 20/21  Cliff   1093.8           Spoon  Bob   373.1
Jumps 21/22    Peej 1203.92         Spoon Martin 427.99
Jumps 22/23  Peej  1226.22             Spoon  Cliff  680.42
Jumps 23/4    Peej   1111.9                  Spoon Cod 639. 57
Jumps 24/5    Steve 794.57               Spoon Martin 351.45
Jumps 25/26  Neil      830.51              Spoon  Cliff    396.25

2026 Flat - Editor's Introduction

Well the biggest interest on the flat revolves around a nine year old gelding and twice winning champion hurdler, Constitution Hill, who starts with a BHA mark of 101. At what level can he compete, as some big names in the middle distances remain in training, Calandagan, Daryz and Ombudsman the most noteable.

Also given the good ground at Newbury in April was deemed unsuitable, for Constitution Hill, Peej will be doing a rain dance come the big summer meetings.  The domination of Coolmore and Godolpin is being challenged by Wathnan and Amo racing so another big season lies ahead.

We have 109 different horses, and the most popular are Bow Echo, Scandinavia, Precise, Raaheeb with 4 picks each.89 of which are single picks.

There are 43 covered here, enjoy the read.

The Editor

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)

Sunday, 3 May 2026

2025/26 Jumps Issue 25 - Tenth Crown for Neil

Headlines

Doyen Quest Lands Oaksey Chase

Report

We finish the season at Sandown on Saturday where in the 2m 6f grade 2 chase Doyen Quest (Cliff) went to post, Led, led narrowly or disputed lead from 5th, not fluent 14th, led clearly 5 out, ridden and went clear run-in, kept on well, winning by 6l. He gets 47.5 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
              April    Total
Neil           58.46       830.51
Steve         116          796.79
Bob           55.26       747.55
Peej           00         443.94
Cod        86           419.7
Martin      31        412,16
Cliff          47.5        396.25

So Congratulations to Neil who claims the Title, Steve picks up April trainer of the month and the Ed has another spoon


Stats Per String
          Runs        Wins
Martin      57     14
Bob           53   21
Cliff           6014
Neil          68 22
Peej           57 12
Cod           57   9
Steve          62  21

Weeks Losers
Tiptoptim, Thistle Ask , Resplendent Grey

Thursday, 30 April 2026

2025/26 Jumps Issue 24 - Set for a last week showdown

Headlines

Wil stars at Warwick 
No Drama At Perth

Report

Apologies to Martin I missed Wilstar a few weeks ago, he won a 2m novice hurdle at warwick, In touch with leaders, headway when not fluent 2 out, led last, ridden out winning by 1 ¾ l. He gets 25 points.

At Perth yesterday in the 3m listed novice hurdle, No Drama This End (Neil), went to post, Pressed leader, clear with one other when led narrowly 2 out, ridden and asserted inside final 110yds, winning by 3 ½ l. He gets 27.46 points.

The John Torpey Memorial Trophy
              April    Total
Neil           58.46       830.51
Steve         116          796.79
Bob           55.26       747.55
Peej           00         443.94
Cod        86           419.7
Martin      31        412,16
Cliff          00        348.75


Stats Per String
          Runs        Wins
Martin      57     14
Bob           53   21
Cliff           57  14
Neil          67 22
Peej           56 12
Cod           57   9
Steve          61  21

Weeks Losers
Innamorato, Myretown, Calico

Weekend Runners

Friday 

Perth
1.30 Wilstar

Saturday 

Sandown
1.45 Wilstar
2.20 Doyen Quest, 
2.55 Jonbon, Thistle Ask, 
3.30 Resplendent Grey
4.02 Iberico Lord
4.40 Be Aware , Doyen Quest
5.15 Hot Fuss


First Course Winner Bonus is available at 
In the UK - Brighton, Cartmel, Perth, Stratford, Worcester

In Ireland - Ballinrobe, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Bellewstown, Laytown, Downpatrick,  Listowel, Kilbeggan