ONE reason why we have quite a good handle on what Buveur d’Air achieved on the clock last Saturday is that there was a well-run novice hurdle at the same distance earlier on the Sandown card, won by Winston C with a timefigure of 133.

The leader in that race got to two out in an identical time to Buveur d’Air but thereafter dropped 1.9s (around 10 lengths) behind as the reigning champion hurdler turned on the heat.

No such direct comparisons are possible where the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase won by Defi Du Seuil (156) is concerned, but we know that a finishing speed of 104.7% (from the Pond Fence) indicates that this was a test of speed more than stamina.

That probably suited the winner, but he was nonetheless quite impressive in overhauling the smart but less pacey Lostintranslation, recording a 142 timefigure which gets boosted to 156 on the back of those sectionals.

Lostintranslation is now on 149, while don’t give up on Vinndication (150), for whom this was barely enough of a test under a patient ride.

The other key winning performances at the Esher track came from Dolos (156 timefigure) in a two-mile handicap chase and Lord Napier (138) in the staying handicap hurdle. The useful staying handicap chase won by Classic Ben was a tactical affair and produced a timefigure of just 115.