THE period under review was not all about Leopardstown and Kempton, and a bit of Limerick, by any means. Chepstow, Newbury, Wetherby and Doncaster, in particular, added plenty to the rich tapestry of racing at this time of the year.

Chepstow’s seasonal highlight, the Coral Welsh Grand National, saw an all-Welsh winner in Potters Corner, trained, owned and ridden by locals.

In terms of time, the nine-year-old posted a 143 figure at this extended distance, with the more highly-weighted Yala Enki (153 in third) and Elegant Escape (150 in sixth) coming out best. Sectionals show that the pace was not the strongest, the winner sensibly kept close to it before moving on three out under the gifted claimer Jack Tudor.

Allmankind furthered his Triumph Hurdle claims by winning the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle earlier on the card in by-now-typical style, going fast in front and keeping going when he might have been expected to wilt. His time rating of 144 is just a fraction behind Aspire Tower’s among juveniles.

Conditions were not as testing as given officially at Newbury on the Saturday, when Thyme Hill was a ready rather than spectacular winner of the Challow Hurdle by a length and a half from The Cashel King.

The latter brought decidedly useful handicap form to the table under very similar conditions and the winner achieved more – including a 149 timefigure – than some seem to have appreciated.

Copperhead is a novice going places judged on his easy success in the Mandarin Handicap Chase, a 146 performance on the clock after some sectional adjustment.

There was nothing flashy about the time posted by Top Ville Ben in winning a steadily-run Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day – a 137 bare time performance at best – but this somewhat quirky individual is climbing up the handicap and deserves another crack at the big time, having finished third to Lostintranslation at Aintree in April.

Marracudja put his own best foot forward to win the Castleford Handicap Chase from the front the following day at Wetherby and is now rated 146.

Doncaster delivered arguably the finish of the week on Sunday, when Lady Buttons got up late to deny Happy Diva and La Bague Au Roi in the Listed Silver Vase Mares’ Chase, with the performances backed up by 150, 150 and 148 timefigures respectively.

Another mare to make her mark at Doncaster was Maire Banrigh, who defended her unbeaten record over larger obstacles under top-weight in a novices’ handicap and ran a 141 timefigure (she should be capable of still better) in scoring by 13 lengths.

There was quite a big bumper performance at Haydock on Monday, when the Fergal O’Brien-trained Ask A Honey Bee came home 11 lengths in front at the end of a well-run contest, recording a 115 figure in the process.

Salsaretta confirmed herself one of the best novice chase mares around at Punchestown on Tuesday by accounting for the consistent Agusta Gold quite impressively under a penalty, her figure of 141 one she should continue to improve upon.