A look back through the many memorable highlights of 2010. Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Big Zeb was crowned the 2010 Horse of the Year following in the footsteps of last year’s winner Sea The Stars.
January
The opening day of the year brought news that the dual Champion Hurdle hero Hardy Eustace had been retired after being beaten in a conditions hurdle at Punchestown the previous day. Dessie Hughes’ charge, who had just turned 13 years of age, gained no less than 14 victories during his career, namely in a bumper, 12 hurdles (including seven at Grade 1 level) and one on the Flat. He will be best remembered for his three wins at the Cheltenham Festival, most famously in the 2004 and 2005 renewals of the Champion Hurdle.
The first big race of the year was the Tendrleen Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park and it was won by the Jimmy Mangan-trained Whinstone Boy. Ridden by Sean Flanagan, the nine-year-old produced a gritty display of front-running on his way to recording a game 1¾ lengths success. The main supporting race to the feature event was the Grade 2 Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle and it produced a hugely-popular result, with the former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition returning to winning ways for Mouse Morris and Slippers Madden. The 11-year-old made all the running and kept on gamely to see off the challenge of Powerstation by four lengths.
The MCR Hurdle was the main event on the first day of a two-day meeting at Leopardstown the following weekend and it saw the John Mulhern-trained Puyol break his maiden over hurdles in the best possible style. Given an immensely strong ride by John Cullen, the eight-year-old led at the last and ground out a game ½-length victory at the main expense of no less than three Willie Mullins-trained horses.
The following day the Grade 1 Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown was the focus of most people’s attentions and it proved well worth the wait, with the Charles Byrnes-trained Solwhit running out the authoritative winner. Ridden by Davy Russell, the exciting six-year-old capitalised on the underperformance of Celestial Halo to draw on close home and record a cosy 4½ lengths success. The other Grade 1 on the card was the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase and it saw a winning ride of the highest class from David Casey on An Cathaoir Mor. Henry De Bromhead’s charge was given an extremely patient ride prior to swooping to the lead on the run-in and recording a 1¼ lengths success.
The world’s newest and most spectacular racecourse opened for business in Dubai at the backend of the month with the first ever meeting being run at Meydan. The mesmerising complex, which is said to have cost over $2 billion to build played host to a highly-exciting card of action and with the grass course not yet bedded in, the Tapeta surface staged the action.
The month was closed out by a high-class card at Punchestown and without doubt the highlight was the clash between Golden Silver and Big Zeb in the Grade 2 Punchestown Pavilion Tied Cottage Chase and it was the latter performer that emerged the comfortable victor. With Golden Silver being let down by his jumping, the winner readily capitalised, jumping into the lead at the fourth last fence under Barry Geraghty and never looking in serious danger thereafter, eventually coming home seven lengths clear of his main rival.
February
The month was opened by one of Ireland’s top novice chasers Captain Cee Bee completing his Cheltenham preparations with a very smooth display in the featured BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas. Eddie Harty’s charge was sent to the lead approaching the penultimate fence by Mark Walsh and didn’t have to be asked to come out of third gear to prevail by an impressive 13 lengths.
The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup was the pick of no less than four Grade 1’s at Leopardstown the following day and it was Paul Nolan that saddled the winner in the shape of the colossal Joncol. Standing at almost 18 hands high, the seven-year-old was given an admirably patient ride by Alain Cawley and was produced with a perfectly-timed challenge to lead close home and prevail by a neck from Cooldine. Away from the main event, the Philip Fenton-trained Dunguib was unquestionably the star performer, winning the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle in the style of a potential star. Given an ultra-cool ride by Brian O’Connell, the seven-year-old cruised into a challenging position before the final flight and eased into the lead under a tight rein on the run-in, drawing on close home to record a highly-impressive 2½ lengths success.
The following week saw the well-established Red Mills Trial Hurdle meeting take place at Gowran Park. The main event was won by the locally-trained Luska Lad, with Shark Hanlon’s six-year-old making all the running under Davy Russell and showed a very game attitude to beat off the challenge of Jumbo Rio by ½-length.
Later in the week, the hugely-popular War Of Attrition continued his resurgence by running out the game winner of the Grade 2 Ladbrokes.com Boyne Hurdle at Navan. Mouse Morris’s stable star made all the running under Davy Russell and had to pull out all the stops to hold off the late charge of Mourad by a head.
One of the best established Irish prep races for the Aintree Grand National, the Grade 2 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase, took place the following weekend at Fairyhouse and it saw a remarkable training performance from Dessie Hughes, with him saddling the first two home. The Paddy Flood-ridden Vic Venturi led home the charge by eight lengths, with the Roger Loughran-ridden Black Apalachi finishing well to take the runner-up position. Following that result, both the winner and runner-up were promoted to the upper end of the ante-post market for the Aintree showpiece.
10 lb claimer Tim Carroll was the star performer on Dundalk’s opening card of the season at the backend of the month, completing a double on the card. The younger brother of last season’s Champion Apprentice Gary Carroll, he opened his account on the Noel Meade-trained Dark Prospect in the bookings@dundalkstadium.com Handicap before giving the Luke Comer-trained Bashkirov a well-judged front-running ride to win the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Race by two lengths.
The month was wrapped up by a meeting at Leopardstown and the featured Grade 2 Newlands Chase was won by the Edward O’Grady-trained Tranquil Sea. The eight-year-old travelled supremely well throughout under Andrew McNamara and having been sent to the front after the penultimate obstacle, he cruised away to record an impressive 2½ lengths success. 30 minutes later, O’Grady completed a double by sending out Shot From The Hip to record an impressive success in the Ladbrokes Cheltenham Bumper Series INH Flat Race under JP Magnier. As is the tradition, many of Ireland’s leading hopes for the Cheltenham Festival took place in a series of workouts after racing had concluded. Many horses impressed in their work and unsurprisingly, Irish hopes were higher than ever in the aftermath of the public display of strength.
March
The week of the Cheltenham Festival started on a sad note with news of the death of trainer John Mulhern following a long illness. One of the most colourful and well-known faces on the Irish racing scene, he enjoyed high-profile success as a trainer, winning what was then the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 1987 and 1988 with Galmoy and the Irish Grand National with Flashing Steel in 1995.
The opening day of the Cheltenham Festival has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for Irish-trained horses and while they claimed three of the six races on the card, the wins didn’t all come from widely-anticipated quarters. The opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle saw the Irish banker Dunguib come unstuck, but 35 minutes later the Henry De Bromhead-trained Sizing Europe gained compensation for the Irish by winning the Arkle Challenge Trophy under Andrew Lynch. The Champion Hurdle may have seen the Irish-trained brigade disappoint, but the winner Binocular was at least trained and ridden by British-based Irishmen Jonjo O’Neill and Tony McCoy and owned by JP McManus. The cross-country race unsurprisingly saw an Irish success, but the one that did the business was the relatively unconsidered 25/1 shot A New Story for Michael Hourigan and Adrian Heskin. However, the punters were sent home happy by the win of the strongly-fancied Willie Mullins-trained, Ruby Walsh-ridden Quevega in the concluding David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.
Much of the focus on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival was on Master Minded’s bid to complete a hat-trick in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but it was the Colm Murphy-trained 
Big Zeb that delivered on the promise he had always shown to record a memorable six lengths success under Barry Geraghty. The other Irish-trained winner on the card was the Charles Byrnes-trained, Davy Russell-ridden Weapon’s Amnesty in the RSA Chase.
After a quiet day on the third day of proceedings, there were two Irish successes to celebrate on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival, even if the luckless punters did not see the wins coming. The Willie Mullins-trained Thousand Stars was the first to strike in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle, with Katie Walsh doing the steering to give her a memorable second win of the week at the Festival. 35 minutes later, Paul Gilligan gained the biggest win of his training career by sending out Berties Dream to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle under Andrew Lynch, who was also gaining his second win at the Festival. Irish jockey Paddy Brennan had a day to remember, riding a career-defining double for Nigel Twiston-Davies that included a particularly memorable success in a dramatic renewal of the Gold Cup on Imperial Commander. That contest failed to materialise into the widely-anticipated match between Kauto Star and Denman, with the former falling when looking beaten at the fourth-last fence and the latter finishing a gallant second.
The Irish turf season got underway at the Curragh the following Sunday and Tommy Stack totally dominated proceedings, completing a remarkable four timer on the card that was highlighted by the win of Pollen in the featured Group 3 Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes with Billy Lee in the saddle. Elsewhere on the card, the Tote Sport Lounge Irish Lincoln was won in good style by the Paul Deegan-trained, Kieran O’Neill-ridden Big Robert.
Irish racing lost another leading figure in March with the owner of Rathbarry & Glenview Studs in County Cork and leading figure in the bloodstock world, Liam Cashman, passing away following a short-illness. Aged 72, Cashman was universally respected in the industry and will be very much missed.
The month was concluded with Tommy Stack continuing his electric start to the turf season by completing a double at Leopardstown. The first leg of their brace was unquestionably the highlight, with the exciting Noll Wallop making an impressive return to action in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes, quickening clear to prevail by 3½ lengths under Wayne Lordan.
April
The Fairyhouse Easter Festival was the focus of most people’s attentions at the beginning of the month and the highlight of the opening day of proceedings was the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup. The race was run in extremely testing conditions and it was very much a case of survival of the fittest, with the Paul Gilligan-trained Jadanli prevailing at 25/1. The eight-year-old jumped and galloped bravely in a race that saw seven of the 10 runners fail to complete the course, coming home 23 lengths in front under Andrew Lynch.
The following day’s action at the Co. Meath track was highlighted by the Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National Handicap Chase and it produced a dramatic result with Bluesea Cracker running out the brave winner at 25/1. Trained by James Motherway and ridden by Andrew McNamara, the eight-year-old mare led at the penultimate obstacle and kept on grittily to fight off all challengers by 4½ lengths.
The following Saturday saw Tony McCoy, the 14-times Champion Jockey in Britain, break one of the best-known hoodoos in racing when finally winning the Aintree Grand National on the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Don’t Push It. It was McCoy’s 15th attempt at winning the most sought-after prize in National Hunt racing and it was fitting that it was provided to him by O’Neill and owner JP McManus, both of whom were also gaining a first success in the National.
The last of the spring racing festivals took place at Punchestown at the backend of the month and as usual the meeting provided an abundance of top-class National Hunt action. As had been the case in 2009, Willie Mullins dominated proceedings form start to finish, declaring his intentions for the remainder of the week by saddling no less than three Grade 1 winners on the opening day of the festivities courtesy of Blackstairmountain in the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, Golden Silver in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase and Kempes in the Growise Champion Novice Chase.
The highlight of the second day of action at Punchestown was the Grade 1 Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup and it was the Philip Hobbs-trained Planet Of Sound that emerged on top under Richard Johnson. However, much of the focus was on what went on behind the winner, with hot favourite Denman running a highly-erratic race and the gallant War Of Attrition making a gallant bid to make his final racecourse start a winning one back in second. The other Grade 1 on the card was the Paddy Power Champion INH Flat Race and it saw the Dermot Weld-trained Hidden Universe run out the comfortable winner under Robbie McNamara.
Thursday’s card at Punchestown was highlighted by the Grade 1 Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle and it saw the Willie Mullins-trained Quevega toy with her rivals, comfortably holding off the fast-finishing Bensalem and stablemate Mourad. The other Grade 1 on the card was the Ryanair Novice Chase and the Eddie Harty-trained Captain Cee Bee bounced back from a disappointing trip to Cheltenham to run out the cosy four lengths winner under Tony McCoy.
One of the most eagerly anticipated Grade 1’s of the week was the Rabobank Champion Hurdle and it was the Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly who made a successful return from a five-month absence under Paul Townend, giving his trainer his fifth Grade 1 success at the meeting. The winner had to battle bravely to get the better of Solwhit, but he did so by a neck. The other Grade 1 on the day, the Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle was claimed by the Nick Williams-trained, Daryl Jacob-ridden Reve de Sivola.
After the final day of the Punchestown Festival had concluded, it was revealed that for the fourth day of the five-day meeting, attendances were up, bringing the aggregate to 93,467, compared to 95,109 in 2009. After that, Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland made the presentations to the 2009/2010 National Hunt Champions, Willie Mullins was crowned Champion Trainer for the third consecutive year, while Michael O’Leary held off the late challenge of JP McManus to be Champion Owner for the first time. Patrick Mullins had two winners to spare to annex the Qualified Riders’ title for a third season in a row, while Ruby Walsh picked up his sixth successive jockeys’ crown and eighth in total and Shane Hassett was crowned Champion Conditional Jockey.
May
Trial races for the upcoming Epsom Derby dominated the Flat racing scene in the early part of the month and the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown saw the Aidan 
O’Brien-trained Midas Touch stake his Epsom claims with an impressive display. The son of Galileo was given a patient ride by Johnny Murtagh and swept through in the straight to prevail by a comfortable two lengths, marking himself down as a live Epsom Derby contender.
A few days later Aidan O’Brien further strengthened his hand for the Epsom Derby with his Cape Blanco running out the impressive three lengths winner of the Dante Stakes at York. The son of Galileo was sent to the front at the furlong pole by Johnny Murtagh and soon stamped his authority of proceedings, coming home 3¼ lengths in front of Workforce. There was drama after the race as the winner appeared to be lame, but O’Brien was quick to play down any concerns and in the days that followed the race he issued upbeat bulletins about his wellbeing.
The entire Irish racing industry was heartened to hear the speech made by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D. at a dinner in the Irish Farm Centre in which he announced that legislation would be introduced to tax all forms of betting. In his speech at the Irish Field-hosted event, An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen stated: “The Government will introduce legislation to ensure that overseas betting providers comply with a licensing regime that will permit them to sell their products into our jurisdiction. This will have the additional benefit of facilitating the extension of the tax regime for the betting industry to all those providing online and telephone betting and so underpin funding for the racing industry.”
Another remarkable year for Irish National Hunt Racing was celebrated at the annual Irish National Hunt Awards dinner which was held in Adare, Co Limerick on Sunday 16th May. The awards dinner which is organised by the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee was attended by over 200 guests from the world of Irish National Hunt. In all 12 awards were presented. Among those honoured on the night were brother and sister Ruby and Katie Walsh; father and son Willie and Patrick Mullins, both of whom also won awards at this function in 2008 and 2009; and mother and daughter Pamela and Nina Carberry
The Irish Guineas meeting at the Curragh is always one of the highlights of the Irish Flat season and the opening day of proceedings was dominated by the always-potent combination of Richard 
Hannon and Richard Hughes, with the pair completing a double that included the electric win of Canford Cliffs in the featured Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas. The son of Tagula laid the doubts surrounding his stamina for a mile to rest once and for all by blowing away his opposition under a confident Hughes ride, coming home three lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. 35 minutes later, the double was completed by the even easier win of Shamwari Lodge in the Group 3 TRI Equestrian Stakes, with the four-year-old making all the running and not needing to come out of third gear to prevail by 1½ lengths.
The Group 1 Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas was the feature event on the final day of the Guineas meeting at the Curragh and the Dermot Weld-trained Bethrah emerged victorious in a tremendously exciting finish. Pat Smullen took a daring route up the inside on the daughter of Marju in the closing stages, but his bravery paid handsome dividends as his charge emerged the victor by a head with less than ½-length covering the next four horses home. The remainder of the card was dominated by the all-powerful Aidan O’Brien/Johnny Murtagh combo, with the highlight of their respective trebles unquestionably being the impressive seven lengths win of Fame And Glory in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
With the Epsom Derby only days away, the build-up to 2010 renewal once again centred on which of the multiple Aidan O’Brien-trained challengers for the race is “the one”. St Nicholas Abbey was generally considered his leading contender for the race, but in the closing days of the month that was thrown into doubt following a disappointing workout and Jan Vermeer seemingly took his place as their main contender. The Ballydoyle fears were soon confirmed when it emerged that St Nicholas Abbey, who had proved disappointing when sent off favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May, had picked up a slight muscle injury that was enough to see him ruled out of the Epsom showpiece.
June
Irish trainers and jockeys were out of luck in the Oaks and Derby at Epsom at the beginning of the month, with Ryan Moore stealing the show by riding the winners of both prestigious events. On the Friday, Moore rode the unfashionably-bred Snow Fairy to a narrow success in a rough renewal of the Oaks, while the following day he rode the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Workforce to a highly-impressive seven lengths success in what proved to be course record time in the Derby. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Irish trainers at Epsom though, as on the Friday the Aidan O’Brien-trained Fame And Glory ran out the authoritative winner of the Investec Coronation Cup under Johnny Murtagh and on the Saturday Tommy Stack saddled High Award to win the Listed Investec Woodcote Stakes with Murtagh again in the saddle.
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning were unquestionably the team to follow at Naas the following Monday, combining to complete a double that included the featured Group 3 Coolmore Stud Fillies’ Stakes with Radharcnafarraige. Owned by television personality Grainne Seoige, the daughter of Distorted Humor stamped herself as a live contender for Royal Ascot by stretching away from her rivals in the closing stages to record an impressive three lengths success.
Royal Ascot is always one of the highlights of the Flat season, but despite their excellent track record at the meeting, it wasn’t until Thursday that Irish trainers saddled a winner, with the Dermot Weld-trained Rite Of Passage prevailing in a thrilling renewal of the featured Gold Cup. Ridden by Pat Smullen, the six-year-old engaged in a terrific battle with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Age Of Aquarius from over 2f out and was a neck stronger at the finish, giving the Irish a memorable 1-2 in the race.
After enduring a frustrating first three days of Royal Ascot, the Friday of the meeting saw Aidan O’Brien burst into winning form with him completing a double that included the featured Coronation Stakes with Lillie Langtry. The daughter of Danehill Dancer was given a strong ride by Johnny Murtagh, leading inside the final 1f and forging on to record a 1¼ lengths success. Murtagh was again in the saddle for O’Brien’s second success of the day, with Mikhail Glinka coming out on the right side of a titanic duel with Theology in the Queen’s Vase. O’Brien’s resurgent run of form continued on the final day of the prestigious meeting, with him saddling the Australian import Starspangledbanner to win the featured Golden Jubilee Stakes. The son of Choisir led from the outset under Johnny Murtagh and had too much speed for his rivals, coming home 1¾ lengths in front of his nearest pursuer.
An otherwise unremarkable meeting at Kilbeggan on the following Monday evening was sparked into life by the gamble that was landed by the Conor O’Dwyer-trained D Four Dave in the Hurley Family Kilbeggan Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old was backed from 14/1 to 5/1 and Mark Walsh didn’t have to get overly vigorous with him to land the money in style by seven lengths. In the days that followed, all manner of tales of how the horses’ connections had attempted to get their money down emerged in the papers, prompting comparisons with Dick Francis novels.
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen had a day to remember on the second day of the Irish Derby meeting at the Curragh, completing a memorable double with two very talented fillies. The first success came in the Group 3 Ballymacoll Stud International Stakes and it was very much a family affair with Precious Gem running out the game 1¾ lengths winner in the colours of Weld’s mother, Marguerite. The double was completed with an even more memorable win for Chinese White in the featured Group 1 Audi Pretty Polly Stakes, with the in-foal five-year-old finishing her racing career in the perfect style by running out the 1¼ length winner.
Johnny Murtagh was the toast of the Curragh on Sunday, bouncing back from a horror fall in the opening race to complete a double on the card that included the featured Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Cape Blanco. Murtagh could have been seriously injured when Petronius Maximus slipped up in the opening juvenile maiden, but he escaped with a gash to his nose and bravely choose to take the rest of his rides. That decision was rewarded a couple of hours later when he rode the Aidan O’Brien-trained Emperor Claudius to a ½-length success in the Listed Woodies D.I.Y. Celebration Stakes, but better still was to come just 40 minutes later in the feature race of the day. Riding the O’Brien-trained Cape Blanco, Murtagh had to use all his strength to drive the son of Galileo to a narrow success from his stable mates Midas Touch and Jan Vermeer, giving O’Brien his fifth consecutive win in the race.
July
The month kicked off with another of Leopardstown’s well-received Bulmers Live evenings and the Listed Golden Fleece Stakes was the main event on the racecourse. It attracted an English raider in the shape of the Mark Johnston-trained Stentorian, but he proved no match for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Zoffany, who produced a winning performance that stamped him as a high-class prospect. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, the son of Dansili sprinted away from his opposition in the closing stages to record an easy two lengths success in the style of a very good horse.
As a racehorse, the multiple Group 1 winner George Washington was never far from the headlines due to his pre-race antics and brilliance on the racecourse. Tragically, he was found to be infertile when sent to stud having only got one mare in foal and having been put back in training, he suffered a fatal injury at the Breeder’s Cup in 2007. However, his legacy looks set to be continued on by his one and only offspring, a filly called Date With Destiny. Trained by Richard Hannon, the 320,000 gns yearling made an impressive winning debut at Newbury in the opening days of the month and looked to be a stakes filly in the making.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Starspangledbanner made it two wins at the highest level this summer by winning the Darley July Cup at Newmarket. The Australian-bred four-year-old had impressed 
when winning the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and again showed speed in abundance under Johnny Murtagh before battling gamely to get the better of the game Equiano by a neck.
The Darley Irish Oaks looked to be a fiendishly competitive renewal of what is always one of the highlights of the Curragh’s racing programme, but the Ed Dunlop-trained Snow Fairy turned the race into a procession. Ridden by Ryan Moore, the daughter of Intikhab sprinted clear in the final 2f, putting no less than eight lengths between her and her nearest pursuer. The highlight of the remainder of the action on the card was the Group 3 Jebel Ali Stables & Racecourse Anglesey Stakes and it saw another wide-margin success, this time for the Kevin Prendergast-trained Dunboyne Express. The son of Shamardal powered clear in the closing stages, putting eight lengths between himself and Samuel Morse, stamping himself as a Classic prospect.
Harbinger declared himself as the new star of the Flat season by producing one of the most memorable performances of recent years in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, romping home by an incredible 11 lengths. Despite much of the focus being on the Classic-winning three-year-olds Workforce and Cape Blanco, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old travelled much the best and sprinted clear when asked to lengthen under a mostly hands-and-heels ride by Olivier Peslier, coming home in a course-record time of 2m 26.78s..jpg "Tony McCoy, JP McManus with Finger Onthe Pulse")
All eyes were on Galway for the final week of the month as the annual festival kicked off with the racing world heading for Ballybrit. The first three days of the festival were not unsurprisingly
dominated by Dermot Weld, with the “King of Ballybrit” saddling no less than nine winners. The feature event on Wednesday’s card was the www.thetote.com Galway Plate and it was the Aintree Grand National-winning team of Tony McCoy and JP McManus that claimed the pot with the Tom Taaffe-trained Finger Onthe Pulse. The nine-year-old battled very gamely indeed to get the better of Themoonandsixpence by ½-length. On the Thursday, the Guinness Galway Hurdle took centre stage and it was the Donald McCain-trained Overturn that claimed the prize for England. The fast-improving six-year-old made all the running under locally-born Graham Lee and had 5½ lengths to spare over his nearest pursuer at the line. Saturday’s action was concluded with Dermot Weld saddling a record 11th winner of the meeting with him sending out Masdar to make a winning debut in the Kerrymaid Festival INH Flat Race under Robbie McNamara.
August
The opening day of the month saw the Galway Festival come to a close and once again it was dominated by Dermot Weld, with the Curragh trainer ending the festival as leading trainer for the 26th time having trained 11 winners at the meeting for the first time. To mark his contribution to the festival, where he first trained a winner in 1972, Weld was made an honorary member of the Galway Race Committee. Encouragingly, the total attendance for the seven-day meeting was 150,767, which was 5% more than in 2009.
The first Saturday of the month saw the Irish team retain the Shergar Cup at Ascot, with them winning both the team competition and the leading rider title courtesy of Fran Berry. Along with his team mates Richard Hughes and Pat Smullen, Berry led the charge that saw his team accumulate 80 points, which was enough to see them prevail by a margin of eight points. Berry’s own contribution of 35 points was enough to earn him the Silver Saddle honours at the main expense of Olivier Peslier.
The following day Zoffany was the star performer at the Curragh, winning an exciting renewal of the featured Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes and in doing so completed a treble for Aidan 
O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh. The son of Dansili was covered up early and quickened very impressively to snatch the verdict in the closing strides and record a ½-length success. O’Brien and Murtagh had opened their account by completing a 1-2 in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden courtesy of Spin and Luxurious, and they bettered that feat when completing a 1-2-3 in the Group 2 Keeneland Royal Whip Stakes 30 minutes later, with Murtagh leading home the charge on the 1/12 favourite Fame And Glory.
The York Ebor meeting proved to be a very happy hunting ground for the Irish, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Rip Van Winkle getting the ball rolling in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes on the opening day of the meeting. Given an excellent ride by Johnny Murtagh, the son of Galileo quickened impressively in the closing stages and got up in the closing strides to beat Twice Over by ½-length. The following day, for the second year in succession, an Irish-trained runner prevailed in the Totesport Ebor, with the Gordon Elliott-trained Dirar emerging on top in the hands of Jamie Spencer. The remarkable run of Irish success at the meeting was completed on the Friday with the Eddie Lynam-trained Sole Power springing a 100/1 shock in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. The three-year-old powered home to beat the Aidan O’Brien-trained Starspangledbanner by 1¼-lengths, giving both the trainer and jockey Wayne Lordan his first success at Group 1 level.
The Group 2 Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes was the eagerly-anticipated feature event on the following day’s card at the Curragh and it produced an immensely-promising winner in the shape of the Jessica Harrington-trained Pathfork. The son of Distorted Humor had been very impressive when making a winning debut the previous month and he built on that by producing a winning performance that oozed class under Fran Berry. Always travelling strongly, the winner found plenty for pressure to beat off the challenge of Glor Na Mara by 1½ lengths.
The final Group 1 of the month was the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh the following week and it was the Aidan O’Brien-trained Misty For Me that sprung something of a surprise by emerging the game winner. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, the daughter of Galileo made all the running and battled on gamely to beat off the challenge of Laughing Lashes by a length.
September
The month began in the best possible style, with Leopardstown’s Group 1 card taking centre stage. Not for the first time, it was completely dominated by Aidan O’Brien, with the Master of Ballydoyle saddling no less than four winners, with the highlight unquestionably being the spectacular success of Cape Blanco in the featured Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes. The son of Galileo was given a very positive ride by Seamie Heffernan, leading from the outset and never looking in serious danger of being caught from a long way out, recording a comfortable 5½ lengths success from his better-fancied stable mate Rip Van Winkle.
Over at the St Leger meeting at Doncaster, Charlie Swan showed his riding skills were still very much intact by riding Miami Gator to win the Fudge And Smudge Leger Legends Classified Stakes. The likes of Pat Eddery, John Francome, John Reid, Steve Smith-Eccles, Tony Dobbin and Kevin Darley were all involved with the biggest legend of the all, Lester Piggott, presenting the prizes. Swan may have retired seven years previously, but one wouldn’t have guessed it such was the style with which he guided his mount home.
Back at the Curragh, the Irish Field St. Leger was the main event and the substantial prize headed across the Irish Sea after the Jeremy Noseda-trained Sans Frontieres emerged on top. The son of Galileo stayed on strongly to grab Profound Beauty close home and run out the ¾-length winner under Olivier Peslier. The other Group 1 on the card was the boylesports.com Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and it saw Jessica Harrington and Fran Berry gain their first wins at the highest level courtesy of the immensely-exciting Pathfork. The son of Distorted Humor again travelled very strongly indeed and showed a game attitude to get through the unsuitably soft ground to record a head success over Casamento.
The main event of the entire Listowel Harvest Festival was the Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase and this year’s renewal saw the Charles Byrnes-trained Alfa Beat run out the authoritative winner. The six-year-old has improved relentlessly since joining Byrnes and, given a well-judged ride by Barry Geraghty, he completed his five-timer in fine style by beating Dancing Tornado by 3½ lengths. The festival as a whole was a notable success, highlighted by a record ladies' day crowd of 27,131 on the Friday. Attendance was up on every day of the meeting bar the first two, with the final tally coming in at 3,395 (3.5 per cent) more through the gates than in 2009.
Veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast reached a notable milestone at Dundalk in the middle part of the month when sending out Tell The Wind to win the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden, giving him his 2000th winner as a trainer.
Vincent Ward stuck a notable blow for the small operators by sending over his Fictional Account to win the Listed SIS Live Fenwolf Stakes at Ascot at the backend of the month. Ridden by William Buick, the five-year-old came with a strong run from the rear to lead 1f out and comfortably hold off Free Agent by 1½ lengths. Her Co. Meath-based trainer, who has just seven horses in his care, was saddling by far the biggest winner of his career.
The month was closed by the Group 2 Juddmonte Beresford Stakes at the Curragh and, as was widely expected, the Mick Halford-trained Casamento ran out the easy winner. The exciting son of Shamardal looked the winner from a long way out and did not need to be overly extended to record an easy four lengths success.
October
The “Super Sunday” mixed card at Tipperary got October underway and the featured Grade 2 Friends Of Tipperary Hurdle produced an exciting finish with the Noel Meade-trained Donnas Palm emerging on top under Paul Carberry. The highlight of the Flat action on the card was the Group 3 Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes and it was won by the Dermot Weld-trained Emulous. Ridden by Pat Smullen, the daughter of Dansili hit the front just inside the final 1f and forged on close home to record an authoritative 1¾ lengths success.
On the same day at Longchamp, Aidan O’Brien got Ireland on the score sheet by saddling Misty For Me to record a very game success in the Prix Marcel Boussac under Johnny Murtagh. The main event on the day, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, was won by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Workforce, with Ryan Moore giving the Epsom Derby winner a sublime ride to prevail by a hard-fought head over the Japanese raider Nakayama Festa.
The following week, there was a fairytale success for the one-horse stable of John Grogan with him sending out Katla to bolt up in the Listed Coral Rockingham Stakes at York. The Cashel-based farmer handled the two-year-old daughter of Majestic Missile brilliantly throughout the season and his charge did him proud at York, readily drawing clear of her opposition to record a six lengths success under Billy Lee.
The Ladbrokes.com Munster National Handicap Chase is always one of the highlights of Limerick’s racing year and this year’s renewal was won by the Adrian Maguire-trained Golden Kite in a thrilling finish. Ridden by Shane Hassett, the eight-year-old led or disputed the lead throughout and showed a very willing attitude to get the better of a prolonged duel with Fisher Bridge to prevail by a short-head, giving both Maguire and Hassett the biggest wins of their respective careers.
The National Hunt season stepped up a notch at Punchestown in the middle of the month with three Grade 3 contests thrilling the masses. The Star 'Best For Racing Coverage' Chase was perhaps the most high profile of the “big three” and it saw the Mouse Morris-trained China Rock lower the colours of Sizing Europe with a gritty display. Ridden by Ruby Walsh, the seven-year-old made all the running and stretched the stamina of his main rival, beating him off by seven lengths.
The following Saturday, Aidan O’Brien gained a notable international success, with him sending out Joshua Tree to gain a lucrative victory in the Canadian International at Woodbine. Ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, the son of Montjeu led inside the final furlong and just held on by a head from the ex-Kevin Prendergast inmate Mores Wells.
The final Group 1 of the season in Great Britain was the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster and having looked like an Irish benefit on paper that is just how it panned out, with the Mick Halford-trained Casamento leading home a 1-2-3 for the raiding party. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, the son of Shamardal hit the front over 2f out and had enough in reserve to cosily see off the challenge of the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair Seville and Master Of Hounds. The win was Halford’s first success at the highest level and a notable side note is that the first three home had all broken their maidens at Tipperary.
The month was closed by the sad news of the passing of legendary former trainer Paddy Mullins at the age of 91. Father of trainers Willie, Tom and Tony, he held a licence for 52 years. As recently as 2003, he had saddled Vintage Tipple to an unforgettable Irish Oaks success, but it was his jumps exploits that will be remembered by most. Most memorably, he trained the iconic mare Dawn Run to become the only horse to ever win both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup.
November
The first big race of the month was the paddypower.com Cork Grand National Handicap Chase and it was the Christy Roche-trained Streets Of Gold that took the spoils. Ridden by Alan Crowe, the eight-year-old was never far from the leaders and having hit the front before the final fence, forged on to record a 1¾ lengths success.
Ruby Walsh had a rollercoaster day at Down Royal the following weekend, riding the winners of the two most valuable races on the card prior to suffering a badly broken leg. The highlight of his brace came in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase, with Walsh partnering the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star to a four lengths success. Nicholls and Walsh again combined to win the Grade 2 Ladbrokes.com Chase, with The Nightingale stretching clear to record an easy 11 lengths success. Just 30 minutes later, Walsh took a heavy tumble from Corrick Bridge in the handicap chase and it transpired that he had broken both his tibia and fibula, which would result in him being on the sidelines for many months.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting at Churchill Downs in Kentucky was all about the girls, with both the flying French mare Goldikova and the unbeaten American super mare Zenyatta bidding to make history by gaining their third consecutive wins at the prestigious meeting. The Freddie Head-trained Goldikova was the first to appear in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and she didn’t let her supporters down, producing a scintillating performance to put the males to the sword in devastating fashion. However, the real drama was saved for the run of Zenyatta in the featured Breeders’ Cup Classic. Having been slow to find her stride, the mare was left with a seemingly insurmountable task with 2f to run, but made a valiant bid to do so, failing by an agonising head to peg back Blame.
The day after the drama at Churchill Downs, last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Big Zeb made a winning return to action in the featured Grade 2 Friends of Navan Fortria Chase at Navan. Colm Murphy’s stable star settled nicely under Barry Geraghty and could be called the winner from some way out, eventually prevailing by a comfortable 1¼ lengths margin.
One of the main talking points of the following week was the news that Johnny Murtagh had resigned as number one jockey to the all-conquering Coolmore operation. Following mounting speculation that the rider would no longer be stable jockey to Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle next year, it was revealed that the rider had handed in his resignation. The following week, it was announced that Murtagh had been retained to ride all the horses owned by the Aga Khan in Ireland in 2011.
The Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase is the main event in Clonmel’s entire racing calendar and this year’s renewal was won in great style by the Edward O’Grady-trained Tranquil Sea. The eight-year-old was always travelling well under Andrew McNamara and having led before the penultimate fence, he never looked in serious danger of being beaten, coming home a comfortable two lengths clear of Let Yourself Go.
The following weekend, Charles Byrnes’ leading hurdler Solwhit made a winning seasonal reappearance in the feature race at Punchestown, the Grade 1 Dobbins & Madigans at Punchestown Hurdle. Ridden by his regular partner Davy Russell, the six-year-old hit the front after the penultimate flight and never looked in serious danger after that, eventually coming home two lengths in front of Voler La Vedette.
A week later, the Ladbrokes.com Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan saw a victory for the small man, with the Peter Casey-trained Jack The Bus emerging on top. With the in-form Alan Crowe in the saddle, the 10-year-old profited from a patient ride, leading at the last and having enough in reserve to hold off the challenge of Glenquest by ¾-length.
Following a poor display in the Melbourne Cup earlier in the month, it was revealed that the high-class race mare Profound Beauty had been retired to stud. Trained by Dermot Weld, the daughter of Danehill won nine of her 21 starts (three successes at Group 3 level) and over €500,000 in prize money.
December 
The month began with the country in the midst of a deep freeze that was depriving the racing public of National Hunt action. High-profile meetings at Fairyhouse and Punchestown were abandoned on multiple occasions and it was up to the all-weather track at Dundalk to keep the show on the road. The thrilling three-way battle for the title of Champion Apprentice very much entertained the masses, with Ben Curtis, Gary Carroll and Joseph O’Brien eventually sharing the title after a thrilling final few meetings that came right down to the wire.
A positive product of all the abandoned racing was what was referred to in many quarters as the best National Hunt card to be staged in Ireland in recent decades, the re-arranged Hatton’s Grace Hurdle meeting at Fairyhouse. It finally took place on December 15th and the powerful combination of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend stole the show by winning two of the four Grade 1 contests on the card, as well as a Grade 2.
They opened their respective accounts in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle courtesy of the ultra-impressive win of Zaidpour and the Grade 1 double was completed by the winning seasonal reappearance of the top-class hurdler Hurricane Fly in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, with the six-year-old out-battling his old rival Solwhit by 1½ lengths. The Mullins/Townend treble was completed with yet another impressive winner in the shape of Golden Silver in the Grade 2 O’Connell Group Hilly Way Chase. It was also a day to remember for Gordon Elliott, with him saddling a notable double that included the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase with the Timmy Murphy-ridden Jessies Dream. The other Grade 1 on the card was the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechase and it witnessed an authoritative winning performance from the Edward O’Grady-trained, Andrew McNamara-ridden Tranquil Sea.
The following weekend saw the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle take centre stage at Navan and it saw the Jessica Harrington-trained, Robbie Power-ridden Oscars Well run out the impressive wide-margin winner.
The following evening, racing gained a notable success in the mainstream sporting arena with Tony McCoy being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. The 15-times Champion Jockey became the first person in racing to win the prestigious prize at the climax of the annual review of the sporting year. Not only did McCoy top the vote, he attracted nearly four times as many votes as the runner-up, darts champion Phil Taylor.
Another cold snap intervened after that meeting at Navan, with the Christmas Festivals at Leopardstown and Limerick being forced to start two days later than usual. Noel Meade was the star performer on the belated opening day of Leopardstown’s festivities, completing a double that included the featured Grade 1 Lexus Chase with the Paul Carberry-ridden Pandorama.
Barry Geraghty took centre stage on a star-studded second day of proceedings at Leopardstown, completing a treble that included the featured Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase on the Colm Murphy-trained Big Zeb. The Grade 1 paddypower.com iPhone App Festival Hurdle saw the Willie Mullins-trained, Paul Townend-ridden Hurricane Fly confirm his position as the best hurdler in Ireland, coming home 2½ lengths in front of his old rival Solwhit. The other Grade 1 on the card was the paddypowerpoker.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle and it produced a shock result, with the highly-touted Zaidpour being defeated by the Mouse Morris-trained, Davy Russell-ridden First Lieutenant.
Noel Meade and Paul Carberry were the star performers on the final day of the Christmas meeting at Leopardstown, combining to gain their second Grade 1 winner of the Festival courtesy of Realt Dubh in the Bord Na Mona With Nature Novice Chase.
