Recently retired Kayf Tara honoured twice in online TBA award ceremony

Sadler's Wells stallion and Thyme Hill earned plaudits for Overbury Stud

Kayf Tara: dominated the TBA National Hunt AwardsCredit: David Dew

Simon Sweeting and his Overbury Stud team were among those honoured at the TBA's National Hunt Awards on Wednesday evening, which celebrated the success of British breeding during the 2019-20 season.

Held virtually in place of the annual National Hunt Breeders' Celebration Dinner, the awards ceremony was hosted by Nick Luck and saw 14 awards handed out.

The recently retired Kayf Tara has dominated the British National Hunt stallion scene in recent times and once again scooped both stallion statistical awards, including an eighth Horse and Hound Cup, which is judged on the number of individual chase winners, and a tenth Whitbread Silver Salver, which is based on progeny earnings.

Overbury also picked up the Mickley Stud Trophy for leading novice hurdler having bred Thyme Hill. The Philip Hobbs-trained six-year-old struck three times last season, including in the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury in December.

It was a stellar season for mares and Honeysuckle, unbeaten in eight starts under rules, took home the Yorton Trophy for leading hurdler mare. Bred by Dr Geoffrey Guy, the Kenneth Alexander-owned mare claimed the scalp of Benie Des Dieux in the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The success of Honeysuckle also ensured her dam, First Royal, claimed the Dudgeon Cup for National Hunt Broodmare of the Year.

Keith and Jayne Sivills secured the Distillery Stud Trophy for leading chase mare for the third consecutive year with the popular Lady Buttons, who won the Listed Silver Vase Mares' Chase at Doncaster, while David and Kathleen Holmes scooped the Shade Oak Stud Trophy for leading novice hurdler mare having bred Midnights' Gift.

The Downfield Cottage Stud-bred Legends Ryde took the fourth mares award, the Midnight Legend Trophy, given to the Leading National Hunt Flat mare.

Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes also won their third TBA award when Gold Cup runner-up Santini landed the Highflyer Bloodstock Trophy for leading chaser. The eight-year-old, a top-level victor over hurdles, previously won the leading novice hurdler and chaser awards.

Santini: on his way to landing the Cotswold Chase under Nico de Boinville

Santini: won the leading chaser award for Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-HughesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Another to bring up the treble for his breeder was Ballyandy. Bred by Jeremy Hinds' Pleasure Palace Racing, the son of Kayf Tara was given the honour of leading hurdler and the Overbury Stud Trophy.

Copperhead, bred by Jane Micklethwait and her late husband Richard, took the Peel Bloodstock Trophy for leading novice chaser, while the gong for leading bumper horse went to Red Rookie, who landed the Batsford Stud Trophy for his breeder Peter Phillips.

A pair of special recognition awards were also presented. The Eric Gillie Ltd Trophy was given to Roy Smith, breeder of Unowhatimeanharry.

The son of Sir Harry Lewis had missed out on winning at these awards in past years but gained his fourth top-level win with a second victory in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown festival last year.

Finally the Queen Mother's Silver Salver was presented to Peter and Emma Hockenhull. The duo have been long-standing members of the National Hunt fraternity and stood a bastion of the British National Hunt breeding game in Alflora.

TBA Chief Executive Claire Sheppard said: "A key event within the jump breeding community, it was a sign of the times that this year's awards evening was to be staged virtually.

"However, it has been a fabulous evening with last season's finest being showcased and rewarded and I would like to congratulate all nominees and winners.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the TBA's National Hunt Committee, Nick Luck and all of our sponsors for their vital ongoing support."

TBA NATIONAL HUNT AWARDS – ROLL OF HONOUR

Highflyer Bloodstock Trophy for Leading Chaser

Santini – Mr & Mrs Richard Kelvin-Hughes

Distillery Stud Trophy for Leading Chaser Mare

Lady Buttons – Keith Sivills

Peel Bloodstock Trophy for Leading Novice Chaser

Copperhead – Jane Micklethwait

Overbury Stud Trophy for Leading Hurdler
Ballyandy – Pleasure Palace Racing

Yorton Trophy for Leading Hurdler Mare

Honeysuckle – Dr G W Guy

Mickley Stud Trophy for Leading Novice Hurdler

Thyme Hill – Overbury Stallions Ltd