The best jumpers in France in 2018

5+ Hurdlers

De Bon Cœur (190), who was crowned best 4yo hurdler in 2017 (French jumps season goes form Jan1 to Dec31), is the best jumper in 2018 over hurdles and overall. Her 16 lengths romp in a very competitive renewal of the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (Gr1) is the best performance seen over hurdles in the last ten years in France. Alex de Larredya (183) is the only horse who has ever beaten De Bon Cœur and he finished second in the rankings. Galop Marin (181), who progressed a lot last Autumn, is third.

5+ Chasers

Bipolaire (183) is the best chaser again. Unlucky in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1), he made that up by winning a second Prix la Haye Jousselin (Gr1), achieving the same rating as last year. He beats Saint Goustan Blue (179), 3rd in these rankings, who had won six times in a row before that.

On the Go (182) won the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1) betaing the mare Perfect Impulse (177) and he's a pretty close second here.

4yo Hurdlers

The 1st semester rankings were a tough call as Wildriver defeated the Macaire duo Tunis and Master Dino in the Prix Alain du Breil (Gr1) when given a weight allowance. On the second part of the season however, Master Dino clearly took over as he beat Tunis three times, once by 8 lengths in the Prix Renaud du Vivier (Gr1), reaching his best rating in the process.

4yo Chasers

Whetstone was the best hurdler at 3 and she crushed the opposition this season amongst chasers despite her being out for the second part of the year. Her best achievement is her 16 lengths win in the Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Gr1), which is the best performance recorded in France foir a 4yo chaser in ten years.

Haies 3 ans

Beaumec de Houelle won five times out of six races , including the Prix Cambacérés (Gr1) 3yo Championship race. He's the only leading colt in the last ten years to do so as they were either geldings and fillies before. He's following two oustanding fillies by the way, Whetstone and De Bon Cœur, who both went on at 4.

N.B. : Ratings in France are listed in kilograms, rather than Imperial pounds. To convert a rating from kilos to pounds, divide it by 0,453.