THERE were some signs of a revival for British connections in the 2024/’25 Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications, but Irish-trained runners still topped each of the six major distance categories over hurdles and fences for the season.

Heading the bill in the latest British Horseracing Authority and Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board figures was the first pair of joint top-rated chasers in a quarter century, as Cheltenham Gold Cup foes Galopin Des Champs and Inothewayurthinkin were both awarded ratings of 176.

Willie Mullins’ superstar was claiming his third title in the rankings, though his Cheltenham conqueror managed to be rated his equal for Gavin Cromwell. It’s the first time honours have been shared since 1999/2000 – the debut year of the classifications – when Looks Like Trouble and See More Business were unable to be separated on 174.

The eight highest-rated horses over fences across the two jurisdictions were all trained in Ireland, with Jonbon best of the British on 168. Fact To File (173) led the way in the middle-distance chasing category, while Marine Nationale (170) heads up the two-milers over fences.

“Ireland’s domination of the steeplechase classifications continued for the 2024/25 season with all six categories topped by horses trained in Ireland,” noted IHRB senior National Hunt handicapper Shay Quinn.

Next generation

However, there were positives for the British National Hunt scene in the novice chasing category - even with the BHA’s top domestic novice chaser sidelined following one start over fences.

“The leading British-trained novice is Sir Gino on 163 and he deserves a very honourable mention,” said BHA handicapper Chris Nash.

“He had just one run over fences and that resulted in an impressive Grade 2 success at Kempton over the Christmas period. He only beat three rivals on that occasion but one of those was Ballyburn (159) and the other two went on to place in a Grade 1 and win a Grade 2 respectively. He never got the chance to test himself at the top level later in the season.

“This time last year only six British-trained novice chasers featured in the classifications but that number has increased to 13 this year. They include three Grade 1 winners in Caldwell Potter, Jango Baie and Kalif Du Berlais who, along with a few others, provide some hope that, if they continue their progression next year, they might be capable of challenging the Irish domination in the chase rankings.”

Quinn added: “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.”

THE answer to who was top dog in one of the most dramatic seasons imaginable for senior hurdlers is State Man.

An ultra-professional Punchestown Festival victory when an off-colour Constitution Hill disappointed was enough to rubberstamp his supremacy in the division, having been an unlucky final-flight faller in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham previously.

A rating of 167 for the 12-time Grade 1 winner was 5lb higher than Constitution HIll in the two-mile rankings, while Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead came next at 159 (a 7lb mares’ allowance against the geldings would effectively take them both to 166).

In the staying category, Bob Olinger’s Stayers’ Hurdle strike at the age of 10 meant he ended the season as top of the pile. On 164, he is also the second-highest rated hurdler in training overall. Fellow Robcour-owned stalwart Teahupoo is next in the long-distance category on 162.

“State Man ended what had been a mixed campaign with a dominant end-of-season display at Punchestown,” said IHRB senior National Hunt handicapper Mark Bird.

“Prior to that success, the title of leading hurdler was very much up for grabs as most of the top hurdle races during the season seemed to leave more questions than they provided answers.

“However, any doubts following State Man’s disappointing run at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, bloodless victory at the Dublin Racing Festival and a subsequent fall at the final hurdle when looking in control of the Cheltenham Unibet Champion Hurdle, were dispelled by his dazzling display at Punchestown, where he made all to achieve a season’s best rating over hurdles of 167.”

Electric Lion

Despite a sublime Supreme Novices’ Hurdle success, Kopek Des Bordes did not take premier novice hurdler honours on a mark of 158. Instead, it was Dan Skelton’s The New Lion who topped the charts on 159 after a classy Turners Novices’ Hurdle win. While that is promising for British connections, he was the only non-juvenile novice hurdler trained in the country to make the classification (therefore rated 150 or higher). Punchestown Champion Four Year Old Hurdle winner Lulamba was the sole other British-trained novice in the table - replicating the same return of one British juvenile hurdler and one standard British novice hurdler in the classification from a year ago.

“In a strong looking novice crop, it is the unbeaten The New Lion who ranks highest,” said BHA hurdles handicapping team leader Michael Harris.

“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 1 company next season in his stride.

“The leading juvenile hurdler was the Nicky Henderson-trained Lulamba, who achieved top billing courtesy of his success at Punchestown.”

Across the entire rankings for hurdlers and chasers, Willie Mullins was responsible for a whopping 50 of the 157 horses with a qualifying rating of 150+ last season. In comparison, all the trainers of Britain had 55 between them. While there were positives among the British novice chasers, and supplying the top novice hurdler, it seems they clearly need to convert those youngsters to senior-level stars.