Special award for Cue Card as best of British jumps breeding is toasted

Cue Card, one of the most popular jumps performers of recent years, was celebrated at the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's National Hunt awards dinner in Doncaster on Monday.

Rowland Crellin – the breeder of the gutsy 12-year-old, who won nine Grade 1 prizes from the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2010 to the Ascot Chase last year – received a special award, the Eric Gillie Ltd Trophy, for producing the megastar who was retired last month.

Elsewhere at the Goffs UK-sponsored event, held on the eve of the company's Spring Sales, Bryan and Sandra Mayoh picked up the Overbury Stud Trophy for leading chaser for breeding Sizing John.

The son of Midnight Legend was denied the chance of defending his Cheltenham Gold Cup victory in the 2017/18 season but did add the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase to his trophy cabinet.

Preston Lodge Stud received the Highflyer Trophy for leading novice chaser, for producing possibly the next British-bred top-notcher over fences, Presenting Percy – winner of the RSA Chase by seven lengths at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Santini and Sam Spinner were awarded the title of leading novice hurdler (Distillery Stud Trophy), and leading hurdler (Shade Oak Stud Trophy) for their respective breeders Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes, and Doug Proctor of Wriggle Valley Thoroughbreds with Bob Eccleshall.

TBA chief executive Claire Sheppard said: “The TBA NH celebration dinner continues to grow in popularity each year and quite rightly recognises the continually improving quality of British National Hunt bloodstock.

“The TBA has been supporting domestic National Hunt breeding with industry initiatives such as the Elite Mares Scheme and NH Mops and it is great to see these are now yielding results.

“I would like to thank all of our event supporters including those who attended, our trophy sponsors, and [presenter] Nick Luck and Racing UK. Also special thanks to Goffs UK for continuing their sponsorship of the NH Celebration Dinner on the eve of their Spring Store Sale.”

TBA NATIONAL HUNT AWARDS – THE FULL ROLL OF HONOUR

Midnight Legend Trophy for leading NH Flat mare
Winner: Midnightreferendum
Pedigree: 5yo b m Midnight Legend-Forget The Ref (Dr Massini) Breeder(s): Robert Abrey and Ian Thurtle

Birch Farm Stud & DGS Horse Transport leading novice hurdle mare
Midnight Tune
7yo b m Midnight Legend-Harmonic Motion (Bob Back)
Paul Brewer

Mickley Stud Trophy for leading hurdles mare
Colin's Sister
7yo b m Central Park-DD's Glenalla (Be My Native)
Caroline Beresford-Wylie

Beech Tree Stud Trophy for leading chase mare
Lady Buttons
8yo b m Beneficial-Lady Chapp (High Chaparral)
Keith Sivills

Yorton Stud Trophy for leading NH Flat horse
Kateson
5yo gr g Black Sam Bellamy-Silver Kate (Insan)
David Richards

Distillery Stud Trophy for leading novice hurdler
Santini
6yo b g Milan-Tinagoodnight (Sleeping Car)
Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes

Shade Oak Stud trophy for leading hurdler
Sam Spinner
6yo b g Black Sam Bellamy-Dawn Spinner (Arctic Lord)
Wriggle Valley Thoroughbreds and Bob Eccleshall

Highflyer Trophy for leading novice chaser
Presenting Percy
7yo b g Sir Percy-Hunca Munca (Presenting)
Preston Lodge Stud

Overbury Stud Trophy for leading chaser
Sizing John
8yo b g Midnight Legend-La Perrotine (Northern Crystal)
Bryan and Sandra Mayoh, Eskdale Stud

Eric Gillie Ltd Special Award
Cue Card
12yo b g King's Theatre-Wicked Crack
Rowland Crellin