Mike Edwards has been laid up for the best part of two months after having a hip replacement operation but at least it has given him plenty of time to reflect on a remarkable season for the family’s ‘wonder horse’ Boher Lad.

When the Edwards family got the nine-year-old maiden this time last year they could never have dreamed that they would enjoy such a startling run of success with him that brought four wins as well as half-a-dozen second and third place finishes.

“We acquired him from his trainer Alan Phillips this time last year,” said Edwards, who developed a passion for racing at a young age. “We got him for peanuts. I’d always wanted us to have a horse that could run in the Newmarket Town Plate.

“It’s a historic race and last year was a special one because it was its 350th anniversary.

“It was started by King Charles II and it’s a very difficult race to get a horse into.

“It’s only open to amateur riders and Alan Phillips lost three stone to ride in it. In the end we came sixth which was pretty good because it was the strongest the race had been for a few years.”

The race, run almost 12 months ago, was won by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, sporting his own Qatar Racing silks, on Almagest and Edwards laughed: “I think he owns Qatar and his estimated income is something like £50 billion a year.”

Edwards soon had his serious head on, however, and realised that the family’s new purchase – Boher Lad runs under the name of Mike’s daughter Rowena Edwards, who lives and works in Worcester – may have some potential after all.

He’d already won a point-to-point at Bredwardine under Ally Stirling before he claimed his first win under Rules.

Edwards, who lives in Guiting Power, told The Local Answer: “We went to Ludlow in November. I remember it was a Monday and it was a really shocking, wet day. It was an absolute deluge.

“He’d never run on soft ground before and he romped home by 40 lengths. And we thought he wouldn’t go for it! One of the horses he beat was worth £50,000.”

Two more wins at Southwell over hurdles followed – all three wins were with Stan Sheppard on board – and there were second places at Stratford, Worcester and Southwell.

Champion jockey Richard Johnson was among the riders who enjoyed a second-placed finish on Boher Lad, who was second four times, third twice and fourth twice in his 15 runs.

Despite the remarkable run of form Edwards is not getting carried away.

“He was a class five horse, which is the lowest class,” said Edwards, “so he’s not a Gold Cup horse!”

And what about this season?

“He’s gone from the bottom of the handicap to the top so this season will be much tougher,” said Edwards. “He’ll probably go steeplechasing but he’s gone from carrying 10st 1lb to 12st. But he’s a handy horse and we could still have some fun with him if we pick the right races.”

That job belongs to Phillips, who is still training Boher Lad from his Callow End stables in Worcester.

That’s not the only Edwards family horse that Phillips looks after.

“We’ve also got a Flat horse with him called Mr Standfast who is not very good,” said Edwards matter-of-factly. “He’s a bit backward.”

Edwards was, however, slightly more encouraged by a recent third-placed finish at Leicester.

“He showed a flash of form that day,” he said. “We’ll see how he goes.”

Boher Lad is currently having a deserved few months off but there’s no doubt who the current star is in the Edwards family stable.