There is a category missing - who is the best horse racing commentator?

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It's Derby Awards day, which normal people won't have noticed, though it's a big thing in the tiny world of racing journalism. We'll be giving out gongs to the best reporter, the best racing writer, the best broadcaster, the best photographer, the best specialist writer, the best emerging talent, as well as lots of awards to racing professionals.

I realise that not everyone loves the idea of awards season or of backslapping all round, but people need encouragement. Anyway, I mention it only because there's a category missing, if you can believe it.

Where's the recognition for commentators? These guys are among the most prominent members of the racing media, we listen to them every day, their voices are as familiar as those of members of our own family. Why don't they get at least one award to themselves?

I've asked the question a few times over the years and never felt entirely satisfied by the answer. There's already a lot of awards, of course. Derby Awards attendees like to hope they might get out the door before gates are closed at the tube station.

Apparently, creation of a commentary award is an idea that does not enjoy total support from the commentators themselves. They would, I gather, prefer to be among the runners for Broadcaster of the Year (won by John Hunt in 2015) and fear they would be eliminated from contention if given their own category.

That, I believe, is why we continue to see no focus on commentary at the Derby Awards. But it doesn't stop the rest of us from recognising excellence and I feel the time has come to just get on with it.

So the Front Runner now seeks your help in choosing the winners of two awards we feel should exist: Commentator of the Year and Commentary of the Year. Winners will be announced in the Front Runner on Boxing Day, with a couple of bottles of fizz to be sent out as prizes to whoever you choose.

We'll ask for your votes next week. For now, what we want are nominations in each category. Get in touch by the usual email frontrunner@racingpost.com to nominate your favourite racing commentator. Do please also let me know if there was a piece of commentary this year that you especially enjoyed or admired.

I would guess that Richard Hoiles has a natural advantage in any poll, because of his position as ITV's main commentator. But he earned that position and, in my view, does it justice at every opportunity.

On the other hand, Front Runner readers would have to count as a sophisticated electorate, familiar with the merits of many different commentators. I'm sure some of you are Ian Bartlett fans, for example.

Others will prefer Stewart Machin or Simon Holt or Mike Cattermole or Gareth Topham or Darren Owen or ... I could go on listing talented callers for a couple of paragraphs. As recently as Friday's Front Runner, we published a letter in praise of John Blance. Irish racing is well served by Jerry Hannon, the Post's own Justin O'Hanlon, Peter O'Hehir and others.

ITV Racing commentator Richard HoilesCredit: Edward Whitaker

What about the year's best bit of commentary? We can chew it over, this week and next, but I was quite taken with Hoiles on the Queen Mother Champion Chase when he was so quick to see something wasn't right with Shishkin and caught every warning sign.

That same week, Machin delivered a good call in the race won by Corach Rambler, which is just as well because that ride has had multiple nominations for Ride Of The Year awards, so the replay is being watched a lot.

Holt was good on the Oaks I thought. His Stewards' Cup was good as well.

I enjoyed Bartlett's King George and Hannon's Irish Champion Stakes.

I throw these out there as possibilities you might like to consider. You'll have your own preferences.

As we chew them over, I'd like to hear from you all about what you most value in a commentary. Is it speed, pinpoint accuracy, entertainment, moderation, insight? Do you want someone to explain the race to you as it unfolds or to give you the bare minimum you need and get out of the way so you can form your own view?

Taking a broad view, I reckon we're lucky enough to have a really strong squad of race-callers just now. So please join me in celebrating the best of them by emailing your thoughts to frontrunner@racingpost.com.

Monday's picks

William Philo (3.25) looked a chaser worth latching onto when he made his debut over fences at Exeter last month. Good ground meant that he was slightly struggling for pace in the early stages and he got tired in the final straight but in between he showed plenty of promise with his jumping and the way he moved into the argument as others came under pressure.

On a softer surface at Lingfield today and with the benefit of that run three weeks ago, he should go well. Cheekpieces are now fitted. He's only 3lb higher than when a strong-staying winner over hurdles on his handicap debut last December and 4-1 is available.

Earlier, Pepe Le Moko (1.55) can be another winner for the in-form Jane Williams. He made a very respectable start in handicaps at Cheltenham's November meeting, staying on stoutly into sixth after being given plenty to do. He's 11-4 on this drop in class.

Three things to look out for today . . .

1. We have a significant hurdling debutant on this quiet winter Monday, as Bonttay lines up in Lingfield's second race. From Fergal O'Brien's yard, she was unbeaten in three bumpers last year, including against 14 rivals in the Listed race for mares at Cheltenham's November meeting. She chased home Queens Gamble in the same race last month, conceding 4lb to the winner and ridden with restraint on her first start for a year. Not all bumper stars can do it over hurdles but she's the obvious focal point for this mares' novice hurdle.

2.Mighty Thunder goes back over hurdles as Lucinda Russell tries again to revive last year's Scottish National winner. He crowned a full season of progress when landing the Ayr marathon from a rating of 144 some 20 months ago but hasn't finished anywhere near a winner in six starts since then, being pulled up four times. He's down to Class 3 company for the first time in a couple of years and gets to compete from top weight off his hurdles rating of 124, with Conner McCann taking 7lb off his back, so this is a decent opportunity if he's up to it. Derek Fox reported he was never travelling over fences at Cheltenham last month.

3.Antony Brittain is among the hottest trainers in the country right now, having won with three of his six runners in the past fortnight. His November record was 5-15, as good a month as he's had since the beginning of last year. He sends four runners to Wolverhampton and all have some interest, though Another Angel is on a very long losing run. Yaahobby was among the yard's winners last month, Turbo Tiger will be sharper for his Southwell run, while the Godolphin castoff Gun Salute showed some modest promise on his debut.

Richard Birch also has his Monday picks here

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content