'Head-scratchingly convincing' - James Conheady among this week's winners

The Racing Post's awards will honour the best (and sometimes worst) performances and raise talking points from the last seven days of racing. This week's winners are . . .

Ride of the week

James Conheady

When the outsider of the field in Limerick’s bumper on Monday was afforded an easy lead around the first circuit nobody took much notice, and when the chasing pack began to swarm around 125-1 shot An Forghas with four furlongs to go it appeared business as usual.

But it turned out 40-year-old trainer, owner and jockey Conheady had judged the race to perfection on An Forghas as he then streaked away from the field again to land a head-scratchingly convincing victory.

To add to the ridiculousness, this was Conheady’s first win in the saddle. Not one likely to be forgotten for a while.

Rank outsider trades at 999-1 twice in running before incredible 125-1 success

Performance of the week

There have been 13 Grade 1s since Boxing Day in Britain and Ireland and a host of top-class performances from the likes of Shishkin, Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame, but arguably nothing warmed the heart as much as seeing Blaklion – two days before turning 13 – jump his rivals into oblivion with a foot-perfect display in the Haydock mud on Thursday.

Blaklion was the only British-trained runner to break up the monopoly Irish runners held in the Grand National last year when finishing sixth, and a second consecutive win – the first time he has gone back-to-back in almost five years – should give him a good chance of making the cut for Aintree again this year.

'He's phenomenal' - old warrior Blaklion stirs dreams of a return to Aintree

Flop of the week

Gold Cup field

The line-up for the showpiece event of the British jumps calendar suddenly looks a lot less appealing after many of the leading contenders flattered to deceive over Christmas. Minella Indo was well beaten before being pulled up in the King George, as was Britain's previous leading hope Chantry House.

A Plus Tard then blew the market open even wider when pipped by Galvin in the Savills Chase. Al Boum Photo did what was required but nothing more in his annual romp around Tramore, and the Savills one-two are now the only horses available solely at single-figure odds, which is good for punters seeking value but does not scream quality.

Galvin and Davy Russell edge out A Plus Tard in epic finish to Savills Chase

Vindication of the week

Nicky Henderson

No, this does not go to the Kim Bailey-trained Vinndication, rather the Lambourn trainer whose decision to avoid the Tingle Creek with Shishkin and instead target the Desert Orchid Chase was fully justified after last year's Arkle winner returned in scintillating fashion at Kempton.

Henderson stuck to his guns knowing the onslaught of criticism that would head his way pre-Sandown, and although we all want to see the best horses as often as possible, it is the trainer's prerogative to run his horses when they see fit. Henderson’s delight at the magnificent return of the superstar chaser said it all about how much that one meant to him.

'There's tons to come' - Nicky Henderson says Shishkin has so much more to give

Trainer of the week

Willie Mullins

The Closutton army has been out in full force over the festive period as Ireland's dominant champion trainer begins to once again outgun his rivals after clocking a stunning 23 winners since Boxing Day.

Among the many short-priced favourites, as is par for the course with his powerful string, Mullins landed four Grade 1s and three more Graded honours, including two of Britain’s bigger prizes thanks to Stormy Ireland in the Relkeel and Tornado Flyer in the King George, where, but for Asterion Forlonge’s latest mishap, he would surely have trained the one-two.

'That was something else' - Galopin Des Champs impresses Willie Mullins

Redemption of the week

David Maxwell

Life in the world of a jockey can be hard at the best of times, and the knives were out from some unrelenting and moronic punters after the likeable Maxwell was beaten by a nose on Cat Tiger at Doncaster on Wednesday.

It takes a special kind of character to ride the horses he also owns and Maxwell has an inspiring passion for the sport, so it was fantastic to see him swiftly turn an unpleasant week into a glorious one with an expertly timed ride on 28-1 chance Dolphin Square at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Maxwell knows when he gets it wrong - but he got it very right on Dolphin Square (Members’ Club)

Read more:

'He created history' - record-breaking Gordon Elliott among this week's winners

Gutsy Allaho 'not at his best' but makes all to land gruelling John Durkan

Expert jury: What did we learn from an attritional John Durkan Chase?

Easy return for Energumene as Champion Chase contender strolls home in Hilly Way

'We've no excuse' - 1-14 shot Kilcruit beaten on hurdles bow by Largy Debut

Catch our new in-depth review of the weekend's racing every Monday in the Racing Post. With big-race analysis from Grand National-winning jockey Leighton Aspell, Chris Cook's take on the weekend action, eyecatchers from the Raceform team, weekly awards and more, it is not to be missed.