Structure Hill was named the highest-rated hurdler within the Anglo-Irish Jumps Classification on Thursday having been assessed with a mark of 170, 5lb larger than Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle.
The five-year-old landed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by 22 lengths on the Cheltenham Pageant on simply his third begin however was dominated out of a conflict with Honeysuckle in final month’s Paddy Energy Champion Hurdle. They might lastly meet within the Unibet Champion Hurdle subsequent March.
His score was the very best awarded to a novice hurdler because the classifications had been launched after the 1999-2000 season, eclipsing the 168 awarded to Iris’s Reward, who was second within the 2003 Stayers’ Hurdle behind Baracouda. It was additionally the very best given to a two-mile hurdler since 2019 Champion Hurdle winner Espoir D’Allen.
Andrew Mealor, BHA hurdles crew chief, stated: “The standout efficiency over hurdles within the final season was undoubtedly Structure Hill’s top-class effort within the Supreme at Cheltenham.
“Structure Hill appears to have the world at his ft as he heads into open firm subsequent season, though star mare Honeysuckle shouldn’t be forgotten after all, having but once more accomplished all that was requested of her in one other unbeaten marketing campaign, together with a second success within the Champion Hurdle.
“As issues stand, Honeysuckle’s determine of 165 plus her 7lb mares’ allowance provides her the sting on scores, though that doesn’t issue within the latter’s scope for enchancment after simply three begins. A conflict between the 2 needs to be one to savour subsequent March.”
Courtesy of Racing Publish