Matt Chapman’s London & The South were crowned Racing League winners for 2025 despite going winless on the final night at Southwell.
Chapman’s team built up an early advantage in the competition and never seriously looked in any danger of being caught, despite a final night treble for The East, managed by Charlie Fellowes.
Richard Kingscote, already in Hong Kong to take up his new position, was the leading rider representing the winning team from Danny Muscutt (The East) in second.
The champions ended up on 840 points with The East on 765.
Chapman said: “I am absolutely over the moon that our trainers, jockeys, owners and horses have managed to beat the best of the best.
“I want to highlight some particular performances from my horses because they are the stars of the show: Fantasy World, Jimmy Speaking and Andaleep at Yarmouth.
“Shamrock Bay and Great Acclaim at Chepstow, Kodi Fire and Siempre Arturo could not have tried harder at Windsor, they strained every sinew and then the magnificent Bragbor at Newcastle, a horse prepared by George Scott for weeks before the event, a joker landed and Racing League effectively won by him that night.
“It seems ironic but beautiful that Charlie Fellowes should suffer this devastating defeat, and that defeat comes at the hands of one of his best friends, George Scott.
“As a captain I have worked tirelessly for my team. My team has worked tirelessly for me, we have been a team and this is a team success.
“To a man and woman London & The South have served and represented one of the greatest cities in the world as few others could have done.
“Long live the Racing League.”
The opening 12-furlong handicap went the way of The East’s well-backed 15-8 favourite Say What You See under an excellent ride from William Pyle, his first in the competition.
Trainer Liam Bailey felt it made up for going close last week against Bragbor.
“Last week was the definition of bumping into one,” said Bailey.
“I was devastated last week, and he got put up 4lb too. I know they think a lot of that winner. To be honest I don’t know how he’s managed to come from last there.”
Indalo made it a double for Fellowes’ team when quickening up smartly to win the one mile handicap.
The 4-1 favourite came with a wet sail under Jack Mitchell to breeze past Gloriously Sassy.
Then in the penultimate race of the series over one mile and three furlongs, the Stuart Williams-trained Crowd Quake (5-1) continued his remarkable improvement when making nearly all under Marco Ghiani.
The four-year-old was winning his seventh handicap of a stellar season.
The East were also second with Charmaine but a third place for Chapman’s Kitty Furnival secured the title with a race to spare.
Scotland have made a much better fist of things this year and the victory of Charlie Johnston’s Benacre (14-1) in the seven-furlong contest cemented their third-place finish.
Scotland also went close in the two-mile race with Artisan Dancer but he eventually came off second best to Sheradann (6-1) for Ian Williams.
Representing Wales & The West, who have surprisingly not been involved at the top end of the table this season, he gave them maximum points.
David O’Meara’s veteran Aberama Gold backed up his win at Ayr last time out to win for the 15th time in his career in the six-furlong handicap in the green of Mick Fitzgerald’s Ireland team.
The final race of the series over five furlongs went to Mick and David Easterby’s Canon’s House (17-2) under Jo Mason, who finished third overall, for Leonna Mayor’s Yorkshire.
