Members of the GWA are due to cast their votes for the 2015 GBGB awards today (Jan 4). The following is a personal view of some of the likely contenders.

 

SPRINT

There are at least four or five major players for the sprinters award with the Paul Wood trained Daytime Flyer among the leading fancies thanks to his wins in the Festival Flyer and Bresmed Northern Sprint at Sheffield.

The Scurry Gold Cup was once known as the ‘sprinters classic’ and the 2015 winner Brogan Tee Bone landed the Belle Vue decider as well as taking the much prized two bend clock at Sheffield. It is a testament to his ability that he is even in contention, given he only raced seven times in the year.

Nottingham’s National Sprint is fertile ground for this award winner so Scolari Sound will probably make most judge’s top three. But Dave Pruhs’ runner is more than just a ‘cat 2’ winner, he has won 10 of his last dozen opens.

Last but certainly not least, Jimmy Wright’s Walshes Hill has won 15 of his 20 opens this year and set a new clock at Newcastle. Others with followers will include Vanayamzaman (Coral Sprint) and Wee Tiger Tots (Henlow Supesprint).

 

STANDARD

The standard is the most competitive off all the disciplines with the vast majority of races staged over it.

If the bookies were laying odds, I think Swift Hoffman would be an odds-on favourite for the section.

His record includes two ‘Cat 1’ events, the RPGTV Scottish Derby and Ladbrokes Gold Cup, he augmented that in the ultimate invitation, the Betfred Select Stakes at Nottingham.

Winning the English Derby Final is no guarantee of the ‘standard’ award though Rio Quattro, who won two qualifying rounds prior to the final, will feature on many voting forms.

Many of the category one winners will have their supporters, not least Do It For Twiggy, whose East Anglian Derby was backed-up by the lower rated Kent Derby.

There was also a notable doubt for Ballymac Mossjoe (Summer Cup & Sussex Cup).

Eden The Kid won the British Breeders Stakes, ran second in the Select and third in the English Derby.

 

STAYERS

The stayers section was also hugely competitive due to multiple selection options with at least seven or eight in the running including, in no particular order, the big race winners:

Fizzypop Buddy (St.Leger), Adageo Bob (Essex Vase), Corrin Bob (Gold Collar), Patchys Kerry (Champion Stakes), Wiki Waki Woo (Golden Jacket), Billys Bullet (Prestige), Tough Tackle (Regency/Queen Mother Cup), Millwards Teddy (2 Monmore ‘Classics’ and the Select Stayers) Soviet Kenny (Coronation Stakes) Swift Cure (Doncaster Leger) and Bubbly Gold (Grand Prix).

Several of the runners reached multiple finals.

 

MARATHON

As far as I am aware, the GWA do not have written rules in relation to Irish entries. With that in mind, it would see appropriate to include the impressive Ballymac Bonnie who is arguably the best marathoner on either side of the Irish Sea and a TV Trophy winner to boot.

Others guatanteed to come into the reckoning include Bubbly Time (Boxing Day Marathon, RU Television Trophy), and Loop The Loop (Totepool Marathon).

 

HURDLER

With only 98 hurdle opens staged over the whole year and only six of them worth four figures, the options are limited.

Mo’s Bullet won one hurdle race in 2015, the Grand National Final. Reculver Ozzie won five including the Springbok. Handy Henry picked up the Kent Grand National. Alittlelesslip was the most prolific winner with seven opens. Julius George ran second in the National and third in the Springbok. . . .

 

BITCHES

There were a multitude of fast females headed by sisters Domino Storm (Oaks) and You Never Listen (Golden Sprint).

Forest Twilight was hugely impressive in the Lowther Stakes where Evanta Evita was second (as in the Oaks and Arc). Rock Cinta won the Ladies Trophy while Airforce Duchess lifted the Brighton Belle at Hove. Graigues Diva won the Angel of the North. Then add in some of names already mentioned: Ballymac Bonnie,Wiki Waki Woo etc

 

NEWCOMER

This is notoriously the hardest group to judge as the requirement is that to qualify, the runner must not have raced in Britain or Ireland before January 1 of that year.

Among the definites are Droopys Buick (Puppy Plate, Northern Puppy Derby, Jones Mem.), Jaytee Spartacus (Jones Memorial Pups, RU Puppy Derby), Ballymac Sheehy (Towcester Puppy Stake) Roxholme Barkley (Trafalgar Cup), Farloe Axle (September Puppy Stake), Eden The Kid and Scolari Sound. Will the impressive Irish trained Puppy Derby winner Droopys Roddick come into consideration?

 

BRITISH BRED

A very good year for the Brits who have largely been mentioned above: Eden The Kid, Adageo Bob, Do It For Twiggy, plus Lowgate Onyx (Stud Book Trophy), King Alley (British Bred Derby), Fabulous Expert (Swindon Produce) Swanalona Dina (Ango Irish) and Romany Rouge (Jones Mem. 684).