Denman and Master Minded headline golden era for Chasers

Chasers trained by Paul Nicholls continued their recent dominance at today’s Anglo-Irish Jump Awards held in London’s Cafe Royal. Denman and Master Minded both posted the highest ratings of any horse in the nine years that full Classifications have been agreed between Britain and Ireland; with Denman on 182 and Master Minded on 186, both beat the previous highest rating of 180 given to Moscow Flyer in 2004-05.

Denman was hailed as the best chaser over three miles or more and scooped the award for Horse of the Year, joining previous recipients Kauto Star, Brave Inca, Moscow Flyer and Best Mate.

Clive Smith, who took home four awards for Kauto Star’s efforts over a variety of trips the previous season, did not leave empty-handed as Master Minded, the highest rated of all horses in the Classification, was top Two Mile Chaser and Kauto Star was top Two-and-a-Half Mile Chaser. He added to that haul with Kauto Star taking the Order of Merit for the second successive season, following a neck-and-neck fight with gallant runner-up Lough Derg, trained by David Pipe and owned by William Frewen.

The Irish maintained their dominance of the Champion Two Mile Hurdler category with Sizing Europe, and that could continue in the future with John P McManus’ Jered taking the title as Champion Novice Hurdler.

The popular Inglis Drever regained the title of Champion Two-and-a-Half Mile + Hurdler for trainer Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie and they also took home the trophy for Champion Novice Chaser with Tidal Bay posting the best rating for a novice chaser since Gloria Victis in 1999-2000.

The full list of Award winners was as follows:

Awards Winner Rating
HORSE OF THE YEAR Denman 182

CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLER Jered 155
CHAMPION NOVICE CHASER Tidal Bay 166
CHAMPION TWO-MILE HURDLER Sizing Europe 167
CHAMPION TWO-MILE CHASER Master Minded 186
CHAMPION TWO-AND-A-HALF
MILE + HURDLER Inglis Drever 172
CHAMPION TWO-AND-A-HALF
MILE CHASER Kauto Star 176
CHAMPION THREE-MILE + CHASER Denman 182