THIS part of the horseracing world will be in full-on jumps mode once the Breeders’ Cup is out of the way, and I for one am looking forward to that. Analysis of overall and sectional times is still greatly under-utilised in National Hunt.

There were some useful novice performances in the past week from horses who could make a meaningful impact in months ahead.

Vosne Romanee made it three wins from five runs over larger obstacles with a 138 timefigure for winning a handicap at Worcester, Midnight Shot made it four from six with a Uttoxeter handicap success that was worth a figure of 137, and Diego Du Charmil saw off one rival with ease on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot, running a 129 timefigure (rated 143 over hurdles).

The best winning jumps timefigure in Ireland in the same period came from Call It Magic, who posted a 133 performance in a minor chase at Ballinrobe.

There were also reminders that you have to keep your wits about you when assessing jumps times, some of the official ones of which are of dubious accuracy in any case.

Downpatrick’s concluding bumper on Friday, September 22nd started from the same spot and seemed to follow the same path as an earlier hurdle race official described as being at 107 yards shorter.

The official distance alterations issued at Worcester on September 18th and Uttoxeter on September 24th appear to have been wrong, the latter for the simple reason that one of the races was divided.

There is really no excuse for getting such basic details wrong in a sport in which races may be decided by microscopically tight margins.