THE rearrangement of the Peterborough Chase from its usual home at Huntingdon to the Friday of Cheltenham’s December meeting resulted in a pretty strong field but a slightly suspect result, with at least one of the main protagonists, Dolos, failing to stay.

Kalashnikov looked like winning for much of the closing stages, but Mister Fisher fought back to gain the spoils with a 158-rated effort that was in marked contrast with his pulled-up one in the Paddy Power Gold Cup just a month earlier.

Low sun

The International Hurdle on Saturday at Cheltenham proved to be another somewhat unsatisfactory affair, on account of the omission of hurdles due to the low sun, with little quarter, or room, being given on a run-in that ended up in excess of half a mile.

The race was run in a good overall time, however, even after due allowance for the above, and Song For Someone can be credited with a 158 performance that puts him in the picture for a place in an average Champion Hurdle.

Runner-up Silver Streak, beaten just a nose after a slightly troubled passage, received 2lb and therefore comes out at 156, with a few others snapping at his heels. Epatante remains well on top in this division on a figure of 165, to which her sex allowance should be added.

The International was run in a time 8.8s quicker than the Triumph Trial won by Adagio earlier on, though all flights were jumped in that. Adagio is building up a decent record, but this victory comes out at just 131 even after a steady early pace is adjusted for. There are several juveniles with better claims so far.

Good effort

The Albert Bartlett (Bristol) Novices’ Hurdle on the same card was a Grade 2, but a weak one in which Make Good forged clear at the end of a steadily run race for a 136 sectionally adjusted effort.

Happygolucky put up a useful effort in victory, and on the clock, in the staying novice chase on Friday at Cheltenham, though a figure of 143 still gives him something to find with the best in this category.

One of those, 151-rated Court Maid, was beaten into third by 140-rated Storm Control in the 26-furlong handicap chase later on, though one suspects that Robbie Power might like another go at his ride on her.

Some Neck obliged in the last gasp for trainer John McConnell in a weakened Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase. This was the only race on the course (on which the ground seemed to be deeper) over the two days, so a 140 rating on the winner is simply what race standards would suggest.

Messire Des Obeaux made an impressive chasing debut off quite a lofty mark at Wincanton on Tuesday and looks like being a high-140s horse at least, though the overall time was only just quicker than quite an ordinary race later on and worth just 124 on that.