IT is difficult to think of an era in modern times when the strength among staying chasers ran as deep as it does now. Don Poli won at Aintree on Saturday. Djakadam won at Punchestown on Sunday and Valseur Lido chased him home. Nobody has loosened his grip on the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup yet. Nobody has blinked.

Kauto Star and Denman were, of course, giants of the staying chasing division but they lacked a supporting cast. Neptune Collonges was in there but he wasn’t in their class. Imperial Commander came along when they were both 10, Long Run when they were both 11. Maybe the Dawn Run/Wayward Lad/Forgive ‘N Forget era came close. Maybe the Bregawn/Silver Buck era came close. But maybe not.