HAS there ever been a season like this for novice chasers? I cannot recall one.

It is rare for even one of them to be rated in the 160s, in part due to their lack of opportunity, but there are currently five with timefigures in excess of that benchmark. Altior leads the way on 170, with Thistlecrack (166), Might Bite (164) and Whisper (162) all well in advance of the norm.