Cossack named jumps champion Don Cossack has been announced as the highest-rated jumps horse of the 2014/15 season in the Anglo-Irish Jump Classification on a mark of 175. Gordon Elliott's chaser crowned a tremendous campaign by winning both the Melling Chase at Aintree and the Punchestown Gold Cup, resulting in him being named champion in both the three-mile-plus and the two-and-a-half-mile chasing divisions. His rating puts him level with the likes of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate in the pantheon of great chasers since the commencement of the classifications. The Mark Bradstock-trained Coneygree became the first novice in 41 years to win the Gold Cup in March and in doing so earned a rating of 172, 1lb ahead of Vautour, who himself surpassed the previous record rating for a novice chaser after achieving a mark of 171 in winning Cheltenham's JLT Novices' Chase in scintillating style. Arkle Trophy winner Un De Sceaux topped the two-mile novice chasing division with a rating of 168, just 1lb behind Sprinter Sacre's old record, making him at that time the second-highest rated novice chaser of all time, until the exploits of Vautour and Coneygree knocked him down that pecking order. Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets tops the two-mile chase category with a rating of 171, while unbeaten Champion Hurdle hero Faugheen comfortably tops the hurdle classifications with the 174 rating he achieved at Prestbury Park, putting him behind only Istabraq (176) and Hurricane Fly (175) since the introduction of the classifications. Aintree and Punchestown winner Jezki (169) is the top two-and-a-half-mile plus hurdler, while Douvan (161) and Nichols Canyon (155) were the top novice hurdlers at two miles and two and a half miles plus respectively. Speaking at a press conference hosted by the British Horseracing Authority and the Irish Turf Club, the BHA's head of handicapping, Phil Smith, said: "Like all racing enthusiasts, I am already looking forward to next season given the high level of performances that we recorded over the last 12 months. "If Don Cossack (175), Coneygree (172), Vautour (171), Djakadam (170), Road To Riches (168) and Don Poli (163) all turn up fit and well in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next Marc, what a race it will be. Who is to say that Don Poli will not improve past them all and have become the best Anglo-Irish chaser this time next year? "On the hurdling front, the Irish are undoubtedly enjoying a purple-patch at the moment and producing some quality prospects, especially their novices. But they may not have it all their own way next year as there are some exciting British prospects too, especially the trio trained by Nicky Henderson who filled the first three places in the Triumph Hurdle in taking fashion (Peace And Co, Top Notch and Hargam)." Noel O'Brien, senior Turf Club National Hunt handicapper, said: "2014/15 was an exciting year with huge performances from the novices in particular. I don't remember a time when the likes of Coneygree, Vautour, Un De Sceaux and Don Poli all raced in the same season and there are exciting times ahead from all of these horses. "Over hurdles, the hugely-progressive Faugheen claimed his first Champion Hurdle and confirmed his class with an emphatic win at Punchestown - it is ironic that his biggest challengers next year could be in his own stable."
