THE honour of best timefigure over jumps in Ireland in the period under review goes jointly to Zabana and Empire Of Dirt on 158.

The former won a minor chase at a Gowran Park that was shrouded in mist, though overall and sectional times were possible thanks to the enterprising use of a camera car on the inner of the track.

What could be established is that Zabana ran the two and a half miles about 5.6s quicker than did the promising Bellshill (timefigure of 135) in winning a beginners chase half an hour later but completed from three out (about 990 yards) in 3.7s slower.

That represents a remarkably slow finish in the Zabana race, and in that respect runner-up Kitten Rock, who closed late on, might have been a bit flattered.

Visibility was good at Navan the following afternoon and there was no hint of guesswork in establishing that Empire Of Dirt put up a smart effort on the clock in winning the Troytown Handicap Chase under a big weight. The nine-year-old would not be out of place in even better company.

“Better company” looks to be the destination for a couple of promising novice winners earlier on the Navan card. Death Duty took the ‘Monksfield’ Novice Hurdle in good style, though his timefigure of 137 is useful rather than better.

It was a similar story for Min in the 17f beginners chase, with a rather steady pace leading to a quick finish and an overall time equivalent to a timefigure of 125. Min’s hurdling exploits suggest he can run into the 150s at least.

Finally, it is worth mentioning one of the winners at Wexford on Tuesday who could be destined for better things than most from such a source. The Willie Mullins-trained Daisy’s Gift benefited from a strongly-run contest for the mares beginners chase in beating the useful Keppols Queen by a clear margin.

That earns Daisy’s Gift a timefigure of 134, and her previous form, as well as the way she shaped here, suggests she will be even more at home back at around 20 furlongs.