Gold Cup one-two Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs share top billing in end-of-season Anglo-Irish jumps classifications

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup one-two Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs have finished joint top of the chase division in the end-of-season Anglo-Irish jumps classifications that were revealed on Wednesday.

They share a rating of 176, with Galopin Des Champs leading the rankings for a third consecutive season, having ended the last two campaigns on a figure of 179 after winning the Cheltenham Festival showpiece twice.

The Audrey Turley-owned chaser attempted to become the first horse since Best Mate to win three Gold Cups in March but was denied by Inothewayurthinkin, who scored by six lengths under Mark Walsh.

Inothewayurthinkin, who is trained by Gavin Cromwell and owned by JP McManus, had been beaten by Galopin Des Champs on his previous two starts in the Savills Chase and Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Inothewayurthinkin and Galopin Des Champs share a rating of 176 Credit: AFP via Getty Images

They have become the first horses to share top honours in the classifications since they were introduced for the first time in the 1999-2000 season when Looks Like Trouble and See More Business could not be separated on 174.

Shay Quinn, senior jumps handicapper at the IHRB, said: "It was a top-class performance by Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup and he won in a very good time. The big question might be why is he not rated higher but it was a tricky call between the pair. Galopin Des Champs beat him easily in the Irish Gold Cup and was ahead of him three times this season, whereas Inothewayurthinkin was trained to peak for one day in March.

"Galopin Des Champs didn't jump as well as he can at Cheltenham and was unable to dominate but he had some unbelievable performances either side of Cheltenham, so we were happy to go with the same rating for both."

Jonbon was the only British-trained horse to feature in the top ten chasers with a rating of 168, with Fact To File (173) leading the middle distance category and Marine Nationale (170) topping the two-mile division. Grand National winner Nick Rockett (169) was joint seventh in the rankings alongside stablemate Il Etait Temps.

Majborough (164), who was beaten in the Arkle but won his other three starts over fences, was given the highest figure for a novice chaser, with Sir Gino (163) close behind despite having only one chase outing when an impressive winner over Ballyburn at Kempton in December.

There was an increase from six to 13 in the number of British-trained novice chasers in the classifications. Chris Nash, handicapper at the BHA, said: “The leading British-trained novice was Sir Gino and he deserves a very honourable mention, particularly as he never got the chance to test himself at the top level later in the season after his Kempton success.

“Other British novice chasers to feature 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 season, they might be capable of challenging the Irish domination in the chase rankings.”

Despite falling at the last with the Champion Hurdle at his mercy, State Man (167) topped the hurdle rankings after bouncing back to form in style in the Punchestown equivalent. Bob Olinger (164) and Constitution Hill (162) were next in the rankings, with Nicky Henderson's star dropping from a mark of 175 at the end of the 2022-2023 season.

Mark Bird, senior national hunt handicapper at the IHRB, said: “Prior to State Man's dominant Punchestown 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.

“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 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.”

Read more . . .

The New Lion rated best novice hurdler in Britain and Ireland - and BHA handicapper reveals how much extra is needed for Champion Hurdle 

Redcar responds after Tom Marquand hits out at track over 'unhygienic' location of exercise bike  

Odds of 25-1 for the Eclipse are appealing about this returning Godolphin four-year-old with a likeable profile 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.