CHELTENHAM’S Paddy Power Gold Cup meeting heralds the start of the jumps season “proper” for some, and it is true that significant performances are now coming thicker and faster. I will look at the events there separately as hurdles/bumpers and chases, but whichever code was involved the ground started off on the soft side of good to soft on Friday and ended up heavy on Sunday.

The highlight of Friday’s hurdling action was the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle win of Does He Know, worth 136 on time but 143 on sectionals (102% finishing speed shows this was somewhat steadily run), which places him high up in a novice hurdling division that is likely to strengthen significantly hereafter.

Duffle Coat enjoys a similar standing among juvenile hurdlers following his gutsy success in the Triumph Hurdle Trial on Saturday, a stamina-sapping affair (93% finishing speed) in which the 138-rated winner came from out the back.

The listed handicap hurdle won by On The Blind Side was run in markedly contrasting fashion (110% finishing speed), and while much credit should go to the 149-rated winner some should also go to the more patiently ridden runner-up Mrs Milner (134+) who never quite got there.

Bumper dead-heat

The concluding bumper on Saturday will be remembered for the dead-heat that never was, Ishkara Lady beating Elle Est Belle narrowly but the judge being unable to separate them in the deepening gloom while using remarkably basic technology. Both horses have been credited with ratings of 121 by me.

It was difficult to get a grip on the timing performances on Sunday at Cheltenham with an already testing surface receiving more rain from mid-card onwards. But the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle resulted in a near-par 100% finishing speed (speed from three out equalled average speed for race overall) and The Shunter can be credited with an up-to-scratch 134 rating from his low weight.

Ballyandy confirmed himself just short of Champion Hurdle standard with a 156 second placing, followed by Tegerek on 134 in third. Fifth-placed Edwardstone can be rated 145 on last season’s efforts and is handicapped to go close with this under his belt.

The Grade 2 Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle went to For Pleasure in remarkable circumstances, the winner getting a long way clear and finding more after Third Time Lucki closed on him. The finishing speed of 94% suggests the winner did not “nick” it, though how he might have responded to being taken on can only be guessed at. The pair now have ratings of 143 and 138 respectively.

The concluding bumper was run at a steady pace (111% finishing speed) and I still have third-placed Weseekhimhere (122 here, 128 previously) ahead of 124-rated winner Good Risk At All.