King Kauto claims jumps title

Kauto Star was crowned Horse of the Year for the second time at the Anglo-Irish Jump Awards in London today.

Just as he regained his Cheltenham Gold Cup, Paul Nicholls’ brilliant chaser was winning back a title he claimed in 2007.

Kauto Star was given a rating of 186 in the Anglo-Irish National Hunt Classifications, the joint highest in the 10 years of the ratings.

Owner Clive Smith also took home Kauto Star’s award for the top chaser over three miles plus, and Master Minded’s for top two-miler chaser.

Nicholls’ Big Buck’s was named the top staying hurdler while the dominant Irish handler Willie Mullins saw Hurricane Fly and Cooldine ranked as the best novice hurdler and chaser respectively.

British Horseracing Authority chairman Paul Roy said: “Season after season, jump racing gives its fans on either side of the Irish Sea both plenty to look back on and plenty to look forward to.

“Making a DVD of the season’s highlights shouldn’t be difficult as there were plenty – from the awesome class of Kauto Star’s win in the totesport Gold Cup to Order of Merit winner Voy Por Ustedes’ gutsy performance at Aintree, this season has given us plenty to cheer.”