Cheltenham Gold Cup one-two share top jumps billing

Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs shared top honours in the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications, with both the Cheltenham Gold Cup first and second ending the campaign on a rating of 176.

Galopin Des Champs had achieved a mark of 179 in the previous two seasons, but after the Gavin Cromwell-trained Inothewayurthinkin foiled his Gold Cup hat-trick, the pair are equally rated – the first horses to split the title since the 1999-2000 season when Looks Like Trouble and See More Business were both on 174.

The ratings are agreed and compiled by a group of British and and Irish handicappers, with each of the six groups across fences and hurdles headed by Irish-trained runners.

Shay Quinn, senior National Hunt handicapper at the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), said: “Galopin Des Champs was the highest rated horse in training for the third consecutive year, although this year he shared the honour with the impressive Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin.

“Fact to File (173) was the clear winner of the middle-distance division thanks to a scintillating display in the Ryanair, while Marine Nationale (170) cemented his position as the top two-mile chaser around following wins in both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Chases.

“The novice section was headed by Majborough (164), who was champion in the two-mile section courtesy of a devastating performance at Punchestown. He’s an exciting novice and if he continues to jump like that, has all the attributes required to go to the very top in open company.”

Jonbon was the leading British-trained runner, although his perch of 168 is 2lb lower than last year, while his fellow Nicky Henderson inmate Sir Gino achieved a mark of 163 in his sole chase start before injury ended his campaign.

State Man, who dramatically fell at the final flight with the Champion Hurdle at his mercy, heads the hurdles rankings on 167, with Constitution Hill retaining his place as the leading British performer on 162, despite coming unstuck at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown in the spring.

Michael Harris, the British Horseracing Authority’s handicapping team leader (Hurdles), said: “The two-mile hurdle division was one of changing fortunes throughout the season and ultimately it was State Man who takes top honours for the second year in succession.

“Constitution Hill was unable to show his best form towards the end of the season, but his success in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton still rated the best performance from a British hurdler at 162.

“In a strong looking novice crop, it is the unbeaten The New Lion who ranks highest on a figure of 159. His defeat of Final Demand (158) and The Yellow Clay (156) at Cheltenham looks a strong piece of form and hopes will be high that he can take the step up to open Grade One company next season in his stride.”