So 2014 is nearly over so lets answer a few questions: 2014 flat horse of the year? The flat seems so long ago but my horse of the year is Kingman, gutted he didn't win the Guineas but he showed his class at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. Would have liked to have seen him go out on a high in the QE2 but injury prevented us seeing him again 2014 jumps horse of the year? Silviniaco Conti for me, won the Betfair and the King George and looked to be all over the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Will hopefully make amends for that in 2015, honourable mention for Sire De Grugy but with us not seeing him this season I had to go with Conti. Your favourite racing moment of 2014? Going to Longchamp and seeing Treve keep her crown, a wonderful atmosphere and a track/day I would recommend to everyone Your best punt of 2014? Was actually this week, I was given a £50 free Christmas bet last Monday and placed it on the following for boxing day: Conti (9/4 and yes he finally won when I've backed him) Faugheen (4/9) Chelsea (1/3) Man Utd (2/5) Arsenal (1/4) Bristol City (8/13) Lincoln City (7/10) returned £1454.03 Your worst punt of 2014? Losing the £454.03 on an accumulator yesterday was pretty bad but I will go with my day at Longchamp, I had a bet in every race and didn't get a sniff of a winner yet what an amazing day which goes to show it isn't always about the gambling and winning. Wow that was unlucky moment of 2014? For me it has to be The New One, nobody knows what would have happened but I think he'd have won the Champion and therefore it is my unlucky moment Feel free to add any more categories
2014 flat horse of the year I am not sure how I have ended up going with the totally predictable option of Kingman, given that I only had one bet on the horse and that was the race that he lost! What made it worse was having the trainer stand five feet away from me while it happened. He was the best three-year-old in what I think was a decidedly average year for the Classic generation. 2014 jumps horse of the year As I did not see any of Cheltenham 2014 and do not really follow the jumps scene, it would be unfair to make a nomination. Your favourite racing moment of 2014 I think I am going to have to go with Noble Mission winning the Champion Stakes to emulate his brother, although he did not have it quite as easy. It was not just the race but such events stick in the memory longer because everyone was genuinely delighted for Lady Cecil and all concerned. They did an excellent job placing him to best effect all season. Your best punt of 2014 Restricting it to racing bets, as I only bet in singles the best punt would be the longest priced winner, which was Battersea at 8/1. Your worst punt of 2014 Any of the myriad of losers in reality but the one that I should have left alone was Hot Streak at Royal Ascot. I had my suspicions about the form (which would normally persuade me to just watch) and I do not think he won another race all season. At least I did not try to chase my losses: quit while you are only a little behind! Wow that was unlucky moment of 2014 Hard to be objective here as I think in racing you largely make your own luck. I will discount the ones that were simply my nag being beaten in a photo and since I cannot think of a race incident that was unlucky rather than bad judgement, I am going to say that Kingman missing what I think would have been a Champions’ Day cakewalk in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was the unlucky moment of 2014 as illness/injury are not generally a horse’s fault.
No flat horse nomination, didn't follow it in 2014 Jumps horse - a close thing between Road To Riches and Faugheen but I think it has to go to Dermot Weld's staying chaser who had an incredible 2014. It started badly with him finishing 4th of 4 in a Grade 2 novice chase over 2m5f, and connections subsequently lowered their sights to a Grade A handicap chase at Punchestown, where he finished a good 2nd. He topped that by winning the Galway Plate in July and was beaten only a head by the living legend Sizing Europe over what now seems an inadequate 2m4f. Two grade 1 victories over 3 miles in the JN Wine and the Lexus mark him down and a serious staying chaser and he finished the year as a firm 2nd favourite for the Gold Cup. Favourite racing moment - wandering drunkenly into the Guiness Village with a handful of notes courtesy of Sire De Grugy and handing over his share to a grinning Stick. Best punt of 2014: The Irish bloke I met at Birmingham Airport on the Thursday of the festival. Nursing a hangover he pulled a betting slip from his pocket and asked me how his horses went on. I looked at the slip, 2 tote bets on the Fred Winter - 10 pound e/w Hawk High and 10 pound e/w Orgilgo Bay. He shot off to the nearest bookies in a taxi and returned an hour later with 650 quid. Worst punt of 2014: too many to mention Unlucky moment: Daryl Jacob at Cheltenham, terrible accident
2014 jumps horse of the year? Conti for me. I think everyone didn't expect how good he became. please log in to view this image
2014 flat horse of the year? Treve, became only the 3rd horse since 1950 to gain 2 successive vitories in the Arc de Triomphe 2014 jumps horse of the year? Faugheen, looks a machine Your favourite racing moment of 2014? Treve, winning the Arc de Triomphe Your best punt of 2014? N/A Your worst punt of 2014? N/A Wow that was unlucky moment of 2014? Can't recall How about building up nominations for some categories during the year and having a poll?
