OUR story of the year in National Hunt racing starts as always with Kempton on St Stephen’s Day where Clan Des Obeaux defended his winter crown by hammering stablemate Cyrname in the King George.

On the same card, a new star shone in the Christmas Hurdle as Epatante quickened clear impressively in the straight and in doing so leapfrogged her way to the forefront of an open market for the Champion Hurdle.

Welsh winner

Across the border, the Welsh Grand National produced its first Welsh-trained winner for 54 years, as Potters Corner stayed on dourly to score for Christian Williams and fellow Welshman Jack Tudor, to the obvious delight of the holiday crowd.

How we’d miss such rousing receptions in the coming months…

Trials

Cheltenham Trials’ Day saw familiar stars twinkle, with Paisley Park striding up the hill in the Cleeve Hurdle to cement his position at the head of the Stayers’ Hurdle market. Santini outstayed Bristol De Mai to take the Cotswold Chase, and put his name in the hat for the Gold Cup itself.

At Newbury in February, Altior and Native River got their seasons back on track with wins in the big graded chases, but Cyrname saw his season end prematurely with a heavy fall at the final fence of the Ascot Chase, which saw him lie winded for some time before rising to his feet to great relief all round.