Kauto Star has regained his crown as the top-rated steeplechaser in the annual Anglo-Irish Jumps Classifications.
Paul Nicholls’ superstar chaser was unable to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year but nonetheless returned to the summit of the ratings, deposing Long Run.
Kauto Star’s mark of 180, two fewer than Long Run achieved 12 months ago following his Gold Cup victory, is 10lb (4.5kg) shy of his own career-high rating in 2009/10.
The 12-year-old is nonetheless at top for the fourth time based on his emotional fifth King George VI victory over Long Run at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The British Horseracing Authority’s head of handicapping Phil Smith, announcing this year’s classifications at a press conference in London, admitted his surprise when Kauto Star lit up Kempton again by regaining the King George.
“I thought his win at Haydock (in the Betfair Chase last November) was going to be his last hurrah,” Smith said.
“There was no question that this was another 180-plus performance.”
Kauto Star was subsequently pulled up in the Gold Cup where the sold-out crowd made its appreciation obvious as Kauto Star made his way off the track while the remaining runners set out on their final circuit.
His racing future, at his advanced age, remains a subject of conjecture.
Long Run, described by Smith as “a little bit frustrating” this past season, has slipped from 182 last year to 178 while ill-fated Gold Cup winner Synchronised is rated on 168 alongside Grand National hero Neptune Collonges.
The latter was retired after winning at Aintree, in the race which claimed the life of Synchronised.
