THERE were a few meaningful efforts on the clock away from the glare of the Cheltenham Festival spotlight, and they could have plenty of relevance for events further ahead.

Chief among them was the win of American in the Betfred TV Novices’ Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter on Saturday. The Harry Fry-trained gelding ran a 158 timefigure in beating the well-treated Rock The Kasbah easily, and would have been snapping at the heels of Might Bite and Whisper in a superior RSA Chase judged on that, though it remains to be seen if soft ground is important to him.

Kate Appleby Shoes ran a useful 133 timefigure in winning the Grade 3 mares novice hurdle at Limerick on Sunday, but Daisy’s Gift’s win in a Grade 2 mares novice chase on the same card was compromised by a fairly steady early pace and produced a timefigure of just 119.

A word should also be spared for the debut bumper winner Minellafordollars at Navan on the same day. He ran the two miles much quicker than the two hurdles earlier on the card (while not having any obstacles to negotiate, obviously) and gets a 114 timefigure which puts him close behind the principals in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. We should be hearing more of him.

Lastly, Saturday saw the latest win of the remarkable Australian mare Winx, who Timeform has running a personal best of 134 in trouncing her rivals in a Group 1 at Rosehill: her sixteenth win in a row, 11 of them at this level. There seems no doubt that she is one of the best females in the history of flat racing now.