Racing Post writers to the fore as nominations revealed for annual Derby awards

Racing Post journalists came close to a clean sweep when nominations were announced for the Horserace Writers' & Photographers' Association annual Derby Awards on Tuesday.

David Carr, Jonathan Harding, David Jennings and Peter Thomas have all been shortlisted for the Clive Graham Trophy for the racing writer of the year, while Lee Mottershead, who took that title in 2019, joins colleagues Bill Barber and Lewis Porteous on the list for the John Oaksey Trophy for racing reporter of the year, along with Chris Cook of the Guardian.

With the usual Horserace Writers & Photographers Association lunch scrapped due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Derby Awards – supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club – will be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing on Thursday, December 10.

ITV presenters Ed Chamberlin and Matt Chapman are among the nominees for broadcaster of the year, along with Alex Hammond and Jamie Lynch from Sky Sports Racing plus multiple winner Nick Luck and Niall Hannity of Racing TV.

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After breakthrough years on the track, Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand make the shortlist for Flat jockey of the year, taking on William Buick, Jim Crowley, Ben Curtis and Oisin Murphy.

The recently retired Barry Geraghty could have one last hurrah as jump jockey of the year, up against Rachael Blackmore, Paddy Brennan, Brian Hughes, Jonjo O'Neill Jr and Paul Townend.

Champion Flat trainer John Gosden faces Charlie Appleby, Andrew Balding, William Haggas, Aidan O'Brien and Marcus Tregoning in that category, while Gordon Elliott, Nicky Henderson, Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, Fergal O'Brien and Dan Skelton are up for the equivalent jumps award.

Nominations for the Photography Awards, Emerging Talent & Specialist Writer categories will be announced next week and voting by HWPA members closes on Sunday, November 22.

More to read:

Lee Mottershead heads four Racing Post winners at HWPA awards

Covid-19 forces cancellation of HWPA awards for the first time in over 50 years

Derby Awards salvaged with TV show on Sky Sports Racing in December

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