End-of-season ratings emphasise Ireland’s dominance of jumps season

‘A lot of British yards did not have a good season’. Irish handicapper believes British may stay on back foot

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Jack Kennedy (Jockey of Minella Indo) celebrates crossing the line during the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) race on Day Four of the Cheltenham Festival 2021 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 19, 2021 in Cheltenham

Ireland’s recent dominance of National Hunt racing was underlined once again on Tuesday when the official ratings for 2020-21 revealed that six of the top eight chasers last season, and nine of the top 12 hurdlers, were from Irish stables. While there was agreement among the handicappers that Ireland’s current superiority is overwhelming, however, there was a difference of opinion on how long it is likely to endure.

Irish-trained runners swept through the Cheltenham Festival in March, winning a record 23 of the 28 races including a dozen of the 14 Grade One events, despite making up just 40% of the starters.