I Am Maximus was National ace for Mullins, with Derby redemption for City Of Troy

January

The usual hustle and bustle of New Year’s Day fixtures saw the Harry Redknapp-owned Shakem Up’arry prevail at Cheltenham, while in Ireland, Henry de Bromhead’s Jungle Boogie was a surprise winner in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore. Adverse weather conditions caused havoc with more than 15 meetings abandoned or postponed due to rain or frost within the first 19 days of the new year, with the Clarence House at Ascot abandoned – later rearranged to take place at Cheltenham – and Lingfield’s Winter Million meeting affected once more. In the middle of the month, there was a familiar face as Henrietta Knight returned to the training ranks following an 11-year break with two runners at Wincanton, although neither managed to get their nose in front. A Plus Tard, the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, retired at the age of 10, while Elixir De Nutz caused a stir with his shock victory over Jonbon in the rearranged Clarence House to provide jockey Freddie Gingell and trainer Joe Tizzard with a first Grade One win.

February

February kicked off with the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, where Il Etait Temps got the better of Marine Nationale and others in the Irish Arkle, Galopin Des Champs defended his Irish Gold Cup crown and State Man did the same in the Irish Champion Hurdle to give Willie Mullins another incredibly successful meeting. Caldwell Potter sold for a record €740,000 in the Caldwell Construction dispersal, joining a new stable in Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard. Shishkin returned to winning ways in the Denman Chase. The Mullins family lost their matriarch as Maureen Mullins died at the age of 94, and in the same month Jamie Moore’s career came to an end as he retired from the saddle. In early-season Flat action it was Military Order who won the Winter Derby and Spirit Dancer took the Neom Turf Cup for Sir Alex Ferguson in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Cup itself went the way of Senor Buscador. The Cheltenham Festival anticipation was interrupted by a below-par racecourse gallop by Constitution Hill, who scoped badly in the aftermath and raised questions about his form ahead of the meeting.

March

Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Mark Bradstock died aged 66 at the start of the month, and the late Maureen Mullins was honoured in the naming of the National Hunt Chase at the upcoming Festival. Constitution Hill was ultimately ruled out of his Champion Hurdle title defence bid, with Marine Nationale another high-profile absentee from the meeting. When the Festival came around State Man was the Champion Hurdle hero in Constitution Hill’s absence, adding to a tally of winners that brought Willie Mullins up to 100 Cheltenham Festival successes midway through the meeting. Protektorat took the the Ryanair Chase in a successful week for the Skelton team, as Teahupoo landed the Stayers’ Hurdle and Galopin Des Champs defended his Gold Cup crown. As the Flat season got under way at Doncaster it was Charyn who hinted at big things to come when winning the Doncaster Mile. Mr Professor took the Lincoln for Amo Racing. In Dubai Laurel River landed the big prize on World Cup night, with Facteur Cheval winning the Dubai Turf and Rebel’s Romance taking the Sheema Classic. There was sad news as John Quinn’s star sprint mare Highfield Princess died following an injury in her stable and worrying reports of a serious injury to the young jockey Stefano Cherchi.

April

Early in the month the tragic news broke that Stefano Cherchi had died aged just 23 due to the injuries sustained in his fall in Australia. Domestically, there was retirement news from both Aidan Coleman and also Eldar Eldarov, who had suffered an injury when at Meydan for the Dubai Gold Cup. The Grand National meeting arrived at Aintree, where I Am Maximus came to the fore in the world’s greatest steeplechase, prevailing by over seven lengths to edge Willie Mullins closer to the British champion trainer title. Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton did not go down without a fight, but Mullins’ raid on the Scottish Grand National ultimately sealed victory. Harry Cobden took the champion jockey award, but Nicky Henderson was hit by the death of Shishkin, who suffered a fractured leg in an accident at home.

May

The start of the month began with a shock as Notable Speech stunned short-priced favourite City Of Troy to land the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, with Willie Mullins finishing on a high as Kargese racked up his record-breaking 39th Grade One winner of the jumps season on the same day. Elmalka flew home to claim Roger Varian’s first 1000 Guineas as the 28-1 chance edged out French raider Ramatuelle and Porta Fortuna. Noel Meade paid tribute to his “favourite horse of all time” Harchibald, after the tremendously popular hurdler’s death at the age of 25, and Lucinda Russell announced the retirement of 2023 Grand National winner Corach Rambler in the middle of the month. Karl Burke won two Classics in the space of an hour after Darnation’s success in the German 1000 Guineas in Dusseldorf was followed by Fallen Angel’s victory in the Irish version. Dermot Weld’s Ezeliya came out on top in the Oaks at Epsom on the final day of May.

June

City Of Tory bounced back from his 2000 Guineas disappointment to a convincing victory in the Derby. Australian filly Asfoora landed the King Charles II Stakes at Royal Ascot, Charyn proved he was best miler in Europe with victory in the Queen Anne and Kyprios regained his Gold Cup crown as Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore took the top trainer and jockey awards respectively. The British Horseracing Authority launched an investigation after four horses died in a meeting at Newton Abbot. Los Angeles ended the month by winning the Irish Derby at the Curragh.