My top ten moments of 2017: Harry Allwood selects his favourites

From Enable's scintillating success in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to a novel way of broadening racing's appeal last year's Tipstar winner Harry Allwood lists his top ten moments of 2017.

There have been some outstanding moments over the last 12 months under both codes with an abundance of scintillating performances from horses and humans. From flying dismounts to world records, here are my top 10 of 2017.

1) Enable’s victory in the Arc:

Enable capped a memorable season with one of the best performances of the year in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly in October.

It was a fantastic training performance by John Gosden to keep the filly at the top of her game throughout the season and to win five Group Ones in succession, including the English/Irish Oaks double.

After the Arc, Gosden said: “I think she’s the best filly I’ve trained.”

Enable was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2017 Cartier Racing Awards, as well as the top Three-Year-Old Filly, and deservedly so.

2) Amazing recovery by Tony Kelly:

Tony Kelly performed a minor miracle to stay aboard Captain Mowbray at Wetherby in December after a bad mistake at the second last.

Kelly somehow regained his balance and, despite riding with just one foot in the irons afterwards, he managed to cajole his mount back to the front and land the spoils.

There was a similar scenario at Clonmel the same week when Jack Kennedy made a miraculous recovery to maintain the partnership with Robin Des Mana mid-race and still managed to pass the post in front.

Seeing really was believing for both occurrences and it is easy to forget what tremendous athletes jockeys are.

3) Frankie Dettori’s celebration aboard Lady Aurelia:

Frankie Dettori prematurely celebrated when he mistakenly thought he had guided Lady Aurelia to victory in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.

Dettori kicked clear aboard the American raider inside the final furlong and punched the air immediately after the line believing they had held off the late challenge of Marsha.

That was not the case, however, as Marsha was announced the winner moments later and left Dettori red-faced.

After the race, the Italian rider said: “I’m in shock, I thought I had won by a neck.”

4) Bryony Frost flying dismount:

Bryony Frost took a leaf out of Frankie Dettori’s book and did a flying dismount after she won the Dartmoor Clydesdales charity race at Exeter in November.

The popular Devon-based rider, who won the Foxhunter Chase aboard Pacha Du Polder at the Cheltenham Festival last season, has made a real impact on jumps racing this year.

Alogside Lizzie Kelly it is fantastic to see female riders competing at the top level over Jumps in a male-dominated sport and her enthusiasm and bubbly personality is something racing should embrace.

5) Aidan O’Brien breaking Bobby Frankel’s record:

Saxon Warrior was the horse that broke Bobby Frankel's record in the Racing Post Trophy (PA)

Champion Trainer Aidan O’Brien set a new world record for the most Group One wins in a season when Saxon Warrior landed the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October.

Bobby Frankel had held the record of 25 since 2003, but the master of Ballydoyle marshalled his string around the world impeccably throughout the season and deservedly broke Frankel’s mark.

Will O’Brien’s new record ever be broken? It does not look likely that another trainer will break it in the foreseeable future, but there is a strong possibility O’Brien will add to it himself sooner rather than later - he is only 48.

6) Menorah deservedly retired:

Menorah brought the house down at Sandown in April when he won the Oaksey Chase for the fourth time in succession.

Philips Hobbs’ 12-year-old began his career with a victory in a bumper at Naas in August 2009 and took the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle later that season.

The stalwart won 15 of his 43 starts including the Manifesto Novices’ Chase, the Peterborough Chase, the Charlie Hall Chase and ran five times at the Cheltenham Festival.

He accumulated over £665,000 in prize money during his eight-season career and now keeps the 2000 Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner Looks Like Trouble company at Richard Johnson’s farm in Herefordshire.

7) Richard Johnson crowned Champion Jockey:

Will Richard Johnson make it a third title in a row this season? (PA)

Richard Johnson ended a 20-year wait for the champion jumps jockey title in 2016 and proved that was no fluke when he was crowned champion again in 2017.

The 40-year-old dismissed talks of retirement afterwards and said: “I want to go on as long as possible.”

Johnson, who finished runner-up in the title to 20-time champion jockey A P McCoy 16 times, is the second most successful jockey behind McCoy with over 3000 wins and still has not received the recognition he deserves.

8) Might Bite in the RSA Chase:

Might Bite almost threw the RSA Chase away when he hung badly right after the final fence and somehow managed to regain his momentum up the Cheltenham hill to deny his stablemate Whisper.

He had bounded clear in impressive fashion before that mishap and to get his head back in front was quite incredible.

The atmosphere that the eight-year-old created in the Cheltenham grandstand was unbelievable and since then seems to have ironed out his quirks with wins at Sandown and in the King George VI Chase last week.

9) Highland Reel’s win in Hong Kong:

It seemed fitting that Highland Reel bowed out on a high with a victory in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin this month after an illustrious career.

Aidan O’Brien’s globetrotter amassed over £7.5m during his 27-race career, more than any other horse O’Brien has trained. After the race, O’Brien said: “He’s a very special horse – he’s irreplaceable, really.”

Surprisingly, Highland Reel’s only success on Irish soil was in a maiden at Gowran Park in 2014. The five-year-old has now retired to stud and will stand for €17,500.

10) Donkey Derby at Beverley:

It may not have been a race run under rules, but the Donkey Derby offered fantastic viewing and created a great response on social media again.

Almost all the donkeys looked like they were going to win during the race and, had it been available for betting on the exchanges, there would have been in-running carnage!

The race became an internet sensation the year before with over 3.6 million views on Facebook alone. There are always discussions regarding how the sport could attract more racegoers and this, as a starter to the main feast, is certainly one.