DON Cossack has been confirmed as the top-rated staying chaser in Britain and Ireland for the second successive year following the publication of the Anglo-Irish Jump Classifications.

Gordon Elliott's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero has been awarded a mark of 177, which puts him on a par with the likes of Kicking King and triple winner Best Mate and represents a 2lb higher rating than 12 months ago.

Nicky Henderson's Sprinter Sacre was named the top two-miler following his remarkable renaissance which saw him win a second Queen Mother Champion Chase, three years after his first, as well as landing the Celebration Chase at Sandown.

His rating of 175 was 6lb higher than that awarded to the best two-mile novice chaser Douvan.

The top chaser over the intermediate trip of two and a half miles was Vautour, with the ill-fated Arzal sharing the novice equivalent with Black Hercules.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned duo of No More Heroes and Rule The World shared top-billing in the three-mile-plus novice chase division on a mark of 159.

However, No More Heroes sadly suffered a fatal injury when finishing fourth in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham, while Grand National hero Rule The World has been retired.

Faugheen, who missed the second half of the season, leads the way in the two-mile hurdle division on 176, with Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power on 166.

Thistlecrack's dominance in the two-and-a-half-mile-plus division earned him a rating of 174, equal to that of Big Buck's.

Altior and Yorkhill claimed the novice hurdlers crowns, but both sets of handicappers were impressed with Faugheen's display in the Irish Champion Hurdle.

Phil Smith, head of handicapping for the British Horseracing Authority, said: " Faugheen became the highest rated hurdler since Istabraq in 2001, while Thistlecrack equalled the level of the great Big Buck's."

Noel O'Brien, senior Turf Club National Hunt handicapper, said: "The outstanding hurdling performance of the season was the mightily impressive Faugheen at Leopardstown in blitzing the previous year's Champion Hurdle runner-up, Arctic Fire, and this year's third Nichols Canyon, and his rating of 176 equals the highest ever achieved by Istabraq.

"Sadly we didn't see him after this run, but hopefully his injury will not curtail this sensational hurdler."