THE first day of the new decade had yet more good jumps action for enthusiasts to get their teeth into, not least the reappearance of reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase.

As with 12 months ago, there is a danger that his performance may be under-assessed, for giving 153-rated Irish Grand National third Acapella Bourgeois 11lbs and a cosy six-length beating, with two other smart rivals well beaten, amounts to quite a bit.

In addition, he ran the extended two miles and five furlongs a massive 22.8s (well over a furlong) quicker than the winner of the concluding handicap chase, though the differential had been even greater the year before

I have a 169 rating on Al Boum Photo after this, and this was, despite the limitations of his opposition, about the most convincing performance in the period under review with the Cheltenham Gold Cup in mind.

Fallen Champ

Cheltenham’s card featured a couple of Grade 2s and a Grade 3. The Dipper Novices’ Chase looked like going to Champ until he fell at the second-last when three to four lengths clear, leaving the way for Midnight Shadow to prevail with a 142 timefigure.

Champ, who was conceding 5lbs all round, remains on 150 but had not been foot-perfect at Newbury the time before, either, and has raced exclusively in small fields over fences to date.

Summerville Boy reverted from chases to win the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle convincingly, but this turned into a tactical affair, 1.9s slower overall than the demoted Protektorat (rated 130) had managed in passing the post first in a listed novices’ hurdle at the beginning of the card but about that much quicker from the second-last.

Oldgrangewood emerged victorious in a thrilling finish to the Paddy Power Handicap Chase, a well-run contest in whichc the form which looks solid, with timefigures of 145, 160 (Saint Calvados) and 152 (Lalor) on the first three.

Sir Chauvelin was helped by an overly-strong pace (while always-prominent Ashington in third most certainly was not) in coming from last to first in a two-mile handicap hurdle at Mussleburgh, posting a useful 136 timefigure.

Castlebawn West, in a beginners chase, was the best winner on a somewhat low-key Fairyhouse card, worth a time rating of 140 in beating Forza Milan by seven and a half lengths.