IT feels like it’s been a long racing year since More Coko galloped past the line shortly after midday at Tramore, for the first win of the new year in Ireland on January 1st.

Yes, of course he set the tone of the year, with the name W.P. Mullins incerted after him in the racecards.

We lost many good men in 2025, some just due to the passage of time like Peter Easterby and Kevin Prendergast, some through illness as in Edward O’Grady, and some far before their time like Michael O’Sullivan.

We also said goodbye in the saddle to Rachael Blackmore, very much on her own terms.

Her greatest achievement might not have been all those Cheltenham victories, but even before they arrived, she’d achieved the never before envisaged scenario - the bunch of old boys in the bookies looking to see what she was riding and going all in on a horse ridden by a female rider.

We had lots of trouble and strife across the channel, small fields, low prize money, problem gambling issues, betting tax, a day’s strike in Britain. And that was even at a time when protests from animal welfare groups had disappeared. All in all, it was anything but a united front from all those proposing both to need and love racing.

There were some random days of glory that still convince that it’s a great sport.

I’m hoping for a Constitution Hill/Galopin Des Champs reclaiming crown Cheltenham in 2026!

As we close the year, while looking forward to some great action over the next few days, it’s a bit sombre for National Hunt racing that we end the season with a great race in store, but the fear that it might be one of the last Christmas crackers at Kempton.

So to all who delight in the phrase of battle, “there’s nothing between them as they come to the last”, merry Christmas and stay sound for another year.

Taking the easy route award: Lossiemouth and Rich Ricci in the Mares Hurdle

The unfair dismissal award: Diminishing the attraction of geldings winning big races

Please stop award: The overuse of TV drone footages mid-race in too many tracks

Keep it simple award: William Buick on Trawlerman, playing to his strengths at Ascot – when we had all the talk of pacemakers, ride the race to suit the horse route.

The valiant loser award: Rosallion, deserved a Group 1 especially in the French one

The keep believing, dream come true award: Shared by Jeremy Scott and Joe Murphy

The redemption award: Mickael Barzalona, got stick for Zarigana twice and Calandagan at Epsom but had the last laugh

The ‘I wish that camera wasn’t there’ award: Pat Keating reacting to Minnie Hauk being chinned in the Arc

The ‘this can not be happening’ award: The Champion Hurdle. Next best: Breeders’ Cup Turf Third place: The Sussex Stakes