Michael O'Leary steps up as panto villain of the week before Goshen thrills

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 . . .

Performance of the week

Hillcrest

Henry Daly has insisted for a while that Hillcrest could be the best horse he has trained, and the giant seven-year-old gave further credence to that claim when breezing to victory in the mud in Haydock's Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle on Saturday.

Hillcrest, who runs in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, may still be unbeaten over hurdles were it not for an unfortunate unseat after being hampered on Cheltenham's Trials day and was slashed to 6-1 for the Albert Bartlett. Whether he takes up his engagement there against the best of the Irish or waits until Aintree remains to be seen, but he looks sure to play a part at whichever spring festival he turns up.

Watch Hillcrest annihilate his Haydock opposition on Saturday

Pantomime villain of the week

Michael O’Leary

As soon as the Grand National weights were announced on Tuesday, the countdown began for panto villain Michael O'Leary to enter stage left and deliver his verdict on Tiger Roll's latest mark.

Sure enough he provided in spades with a withering assessment of British handicapper Martin Greenwood, who had dared to drop the dual winner of the race 5lb from what he had been given last year

Were there legitimate points to be debated over Tiger Roll's rating? Absolutely but O'Leary's incendiary comments, in line with countless other similar statements since Tiger Roll first wowed Aintree in 2018, have not helped matters.

Tiger Roll ruled out of the National over 'ridiculous rating and unfair weight'

Heroes of the week

Racecourse and stable staff

There is never a time when we shouldn't be grateful for the tireless work from those workers more in the background who help ensure the never-ending racing roadshow continues, but they deserve particular credit after battling through the effects of Storm Eunice.

Wincanton storm damage: staff at the Somerset course had to work hard to help get racing onCredit: Dan Cooper

While much of the country bunkered down, stable staff were still required to care for and work their horses as usual, while staff at Wincanton should be praised for their efforts in ensuring Saturday's Kingwell Hurdle fixture went ahead, despite the track suffering substantial damage and a prolonged spell without power.

'It was getting pretty scary by third lot' - Nicky Henderson battles the storm

Race of the week

Kingwell Hurdle

Speaking of Wincanton, it's not often a four-runner race produces such an enthralling spectacle, but that's what we were treated to as Goshen found an extra gear to repel the hefty challenge of Adagio.

Even Jamie Moore thought his race was run when the strong-travelling Adagio briefly headed Goshen heading towards the last, only for the enigmatic six-year-old to battle back to claim back-to-back Kingwells.

Full report: 'Yes, he's quirky, but that was incredible' - Goshen delivers in Kingwell epic

Feel-good moment of the week

Melon

Ah Melon, it's nice to see you again. After a multitude of near-misses, the much-maligned ten-year-old ended a long winless drought stretching back 785 days to December 2019 when landing the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on Saturday.

Melon: gained his first win in 785 daysCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

For a horse of his quality to have won only five of 30 starts is a real shame – and another indicator of the strength-in-depth the likes of Irish racing supremos Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott possess – and even if this win came in a weaker contest from what he's become accustomed to, it was still pleasing to see him get his head in front again.

Watch Melon end his long winless drought at Gowran Park on Saturday

Trainer of the week

Sam Thomas

Three runners, three winners. Sam Thomas has prove himself to be an extremely shrewd operator this season and the week couldn't have gone much better for the Welshman.

After Shomen Uchi bolted home at Ludlow on Wednesday, Thomas was quiet until a terrific double at Ascot on Saturday as Skytastic and Good Risk At All, both ridden by the red-hot Charlie Deutsch, completed a superb week.

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Wincanton Saturday: 'Yes, he's quirky, but that was incredible' - Goshen delivers in Kingwell epic

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.