THE Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle proved a somewhat controversial affair, with the race-fit Cornerstone Lad getting loose on the lead and the long-odds-on Buveur D’Air failing by a short-head to go past him. Thanks to Total Performance Data’s sectionals, we can figure out what went on with great accuracy. Cornerstone Lad’s finishing speed from four furlongs out was 98.1%, whereas Buveur D’Air’s was 101.6%, but Newcastle is no ordinary track, in that its finish is against the collar, and par finishing speed % is in the mid-90s.

The splits show that Buveur D’Air raced quite a bit less efficiently than did Cornerstone Lad, and that should have made the small difference between winning and losing, and more besides. Of course, Buveur D’Air finished with an injury, apparently sustained in jumping when trying to make up the substantial deficit, so he would probably have got away with it otherwise, without running to his best.

That is not to take much away from Cornerstone Lad, on whom Henry Brooke excelled. But he goes up only to 152 after sectionals have been factored in, while Buveur D’Air figures on 157 in this by the same process. Sadly, we may not see the latter for some time.

Rehearsal

The opposite problem of going too fast in the lead might have been what did for Top Ville Ben in the Rehearsal Chase at the end of the Newcastle card, for not just he but the two who swept by him late on – Takingrisks and Captain Chaos – finished slower than par. That said, being steadied into the final fence when a few lengths clear, after which he might have idled, probably did him no favours, either. Sectionals have Top Ville Ben best in the race on 155, with Takingrisks and Captain Chaos (both in receipt of weight) on 145 and 132 respectively. The first-named is not so far behind Cheltenham Gold Cup horses, especially if he can continue to progress.